Benue APC warns that a meeting with Zamfara could be jeopardized by an “illegal” exco dissolution.

Edward Akum Ejor, a public affairs analyst and Abuja‑based lawyer, has accused certain leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State of violating the party’s constitution by dissolving the Augustine Agada‑led State Executive Committee.

He described the dissolution as a serious breach of the rule of law, carried out in bad faith (mala fide).

The Agada‑led Executive Committee had been elected for a four‑year term, running from 3 February 2022 to 2 February 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Ejor noted that the Federal High Court order remains in force, making the alleged dissolution null and void.

He argued that the National Working Committee (NWC) does not have constitutional authority to form a caretaker committee, a power that is exclusively reserved for the National Executive Committee (NEC) under Article 13.3(B) of the APC constitution.

"The caretaker committee was an illegality ab initio. The constitution is clear on who has the power to set up such a committee," he said.

Ejor further claimed that a competent court had already declared the dissolution of the Benue APC executive illegal and nullified the activities of the caretaker committee, with that judgment still standing.

He warned that continued disregard for the party constitution and court rulings could deepen the crisis within the APC in Benue State and threaten the party’s future electoral prospects.

Drawing a parallel with the 2019 Zamfara APC crisis, Ejor cautioned party leaders against actions that could create constitutional complications ahead of upcoming elections.

In 2019, the Supreme Court nullified all APC candidates’ elections in Zamfara State after ruling that the party had failed to conduct valid primaries, thereby invalidating the votes the party had received.

The judgment caused the APC to lose the governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly seats in the state.

Political observers say the Zamfara case remains one of the most significant legal setbacks for a political party in Nigeria’s democratic history, serving as a warning against ignoring party constitutions and internal democratic procedures.

Ejor urged Benue APC leaders to avoid repeating mistakes that could plunge the party into avoidable legal and political crises.

"The law must be respected. You cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand," he added.