Suswam affirms no split between Alia and SGF Akume, calling Benue governor his political father.

Former Benue State governor and current Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam said on Thursday that there is no division between the state's current governor, Hyacinth Alia, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and other All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Benue.

Suswam explained that Alia and Akume had reconciled their differences following a major APC stakeholder meeting held at the State Government House in Makurdi, the state capital.

He made the comments on Arise Television’s Morning Show, shortly after his victory in the APC primaries for the state.

The former governor won the Benue North East, Zone A, APC senatorial primary election with 131,083 votes.

Suswam defeated his nearest rival, incumbent senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, in a closely contested primary that took place across the seven local government areas of Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum, Konshisha, Vandeikya, Kwande and Ushongo.

Speaking about his win, Suswam said: “It’s the APC part that I belong to. A few weeks ago under the instrumentality of Mr President all of us were called by the governor in Benue including the SGF and stakeholders of APC in Benue to the Government House.”

“We held a very impressive reconciliation meeting and at the end of the meeting both the governor and the SGF made statements to the people indicating that reconciliations have taken place.”

“There is no divide in Benue as far as I know and am concerned.”

The former governor also denied any affiliation with a particular faction within the state APC.

He added: “I was nominated and contested under the platform of the APC, not the platform of the SGF or the governor.”

Suswam further noted that Alia remains the political father of Benue State, saying that all parties are seeking his support.

“The governor is the political father of the state as of now so everybody must seek the support of the governor.”

“So all of us are seeking the support of the governor and I thank God that I emerged victorious in the nomination process,” he added.