The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on Saturday, said the ruling All Progressives Congress in Benue State would not allow anyone to run away with the party’s mandate again.

Akume stated this at the party’s stakeholders meeting held at Government House, Makurdi.

The SGF, who was represented by one of the elders of the party, Simon Shango, said the party was determined to ensure peace and unity in its ranks.

It was reported that the immediate past governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, who won the governorship on the platform of the APC in 2015 later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party in 2018.

Akume, who dismissed insinuations of division between him and the governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, said he remained faithful as a servant and ambassador of the state at the federal level.

Shango said, “The SGF said he is your (governor’s) eyes in Abuja. He appreciates the work you have done so far. In a situation like this there must be problems, but they are being solved.

“The party is determined to ensure unity of purpose among the members, and he (Akume) emphasised that no one will go away with our mandate anymore, and we will do our best to ensure that the marriage continues.”

He added that, “There is no issue with the governor and they have been relating well.”

While calling on party members to come together, the former governor of the state warned political jobbers to refrain from creating enmity among party members.

Also in his speech, Alia who appreciated the party for reposing confidence in him, promised that he would struggle hard to restore all the glories of the state.

He appreciated all speakers at the meeting and assured them that the party would remain united, saying, “on the unity of purpose. we must stand, we can not stand in the difference.” (The PUNCH)

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