Peace Or Pretext? The Makurdi Meeting And The Rule Of Law -By Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, the much-anticipated “reconciliation meeting” between Hyacinth Alia and George Akume finally held at Government House, Makurdi. It was convened amid heightened expectations that the lingering crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State would be resolved.

But if the test of reconciliation is clarity, unity, and shared understanding, then what emerged from Makurdi was not peace—it was parallel narratives.

Two national dailies reported sharply conflicting accounts of the meeting’s outcome. While one suggested a resolution and party unity, another highlighted a disagreement—particularly on the contentious issue of “automatic ticket” for incumbents. More tellingly, both principal actors did not address the press together. That silence, louder than any communiqué, betrayed a fundamental truth: there was no meeting of minds.

The Phantom of “Automatic Ticket”

At the heart of this confusion lies a troubling proposition—that all APC incumbents in Benue State should be granted “automatic tickets” ahead of the 2027 elections.

Let us be clear: there is no such provision under Nigerian law.

The Electoral Act 2026 is explicit on how candidates emerge. Under its provisions governing party primaries (notably Section 84 as updated), political parties may nominate candidates only through:

•Direct primaries, or
•Consensus

There is no provision for indirect primaries under the 2026 framework. More importantly, in the case of consensus, all aspirants must voluntarily agree in writing to step down for the chosen candidate. Where even one aspirant refuses, the party is legally bound to conduct direct primaries.

This is not advisory. It is binding law.

So, one must ask: How can “automatic ticket” be imposed where the law demands participation, consent, and competition?

Can You Shave a Man’s Head in His Absence?

Just days before this meeting, aspirants across Benue State purchased nomination and expression of interest forms—some at great financial cost—preparing to test their popularity within the party.

Yet, these very aspirants were not present at the Makurdi meeting.

How then could a decision affecting their political rights be validly taken in their absence?

Consensus, under the law, is not a backroom agreement among a few influential figures. It is a documented, voluntary surrender of ambition by all aspirants.

Anything short of that is not consensus. It is imposition.

And democracy does not thrive on imposition—it suffocates under it.

A Dangerous Precedent

Governor Alia is reported to have rightly stated that neither he nor the SGF has the authority to grant automatic tickets. He also aligned with the publicly known position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC national leadership—that the party does not support automatic tickets.

That position is not only politically prudent; it is legally sound.

So why then is Benue being positioned as an exception?

Under what law?

If this path is pursued, the APC risks igniting a deeper internal crisis—alienating committed members who have invested resources and time, and undermining confidence in its internal democracy.

Democracy Is Not a Suggestion

Nigeria’s democracy was not handed down cheaply. Many, including President Tinubu himself, stood firm in the struggle for democratic rule in the early 1990s.

It would therefore be a tragic irony if his name were now invoked—rightly or wrongly—to justify actions that contradict democratic principles.

Those who claim that “the presidency” has endorsed automatic tickets in Benue State do a grave disservice to the President. They portray him as indifferent to:

• The rights of party members
•The rule of law
• The principle that performance—not entitlement—should determine re-election

That portrayal is both unfair and dangerous.

Who Is Afraid of Direct Primaries?

Let us ask the uncomfortable question.

Who fears direct primaries?

Certainly not the people.
Certainly not aspirants ready to test their strength.

If anyone is uneasy about open contest, it raises a legitimate concern:
Is it confidence in performance—or fear of accountability?
Additionally, this insistence on “automatic ticket” by the Akume group at the Makurdi “reconciliation meeting” has finally unveiled the masquerade that has troubled Benue State in the past two years+: the fear of defeat in 2027 and unmoderated determination to retain political relevance and influence even in the face of potential rejection by Benue voters!

Benue voters are politically mature. They have demonstrated, time and again, their willingness to vote across party lines when necessary. For instance, in 2019, they rejected President Buhari but returned their governor (His Excellency Ortom), while Senator Akume lost his senate seat.

They cannot be compelled.
They resist oppression.
They despise imposition.
They must be convinced.

Peace Without Law Is Illusion

Can there be lasting peace built on a foundation that contradicts the law?

The answer is simple: No.

Peace that ignores legality becomes temporary convenience.
Unity that suppresses rights becomes future conflict.

The Makurdi meeting, as presently understood, risks becoming not a turning point—but a trigger point.

Conclusion: Choose Law, Choose Peace

If the goal is truly reconciliation, then the path is clear:

• Respect the Electoral Act
• Allow open, fair, and transparent direct primaries where required
•Resort to consensus only where it is lawful and truly voluntary
•Let aspirants compete
•Let the people decide

Anything else is not reconciliation.
It is orchestration.

And in democracy, the people are not an audience—they are the authors.

If Benue must move forward, it must do so not through arranged outcomes, but through legitimate processes.

Because in the end, the law is not an obstacle to peace—it is its only guarantee.

Leonard Karshima Shilgba is a foundation member of Benue APC