Biography

A Born Political Candidate

Senator Dr.George Akume commenced his working career as a Land Officer with the Benue State Civil Service, after his successful completion of the Mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Scheme, 1978 – 79 service year, during which he taught at the Advanced Teachers College, (Now College of Education) Akwanga, Nassarawa State.

The amiable senator, representing Benue North / West Senatorial District had a steady progression in his career as a seasoned administrator. He held several positions at various times: assistant secretary, research and policy analysis (REPA) in the governor’s office, principal secretary, under secretary and director of personnel management in 1994, he also handled several special assignments including secretary / chairman, white paper drafting committees, secretary Gboko local government council, one of the most controversial local Councils in Benue State, sole administrator of Idah Local Government Council, (Now in Kogi State), and Gboko Local Government Areas. He was also director of protocol, government house, Makurdi, Benue State.

Between 1994 – 1995, he was on secondment at the Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos as Deputy Director. George became the Director – General (1996), and later, permanent secretary, (Establishments and Management Services), a position he held until 1998, when he voluntarily retired from public service to participate fully in Partisan Politics.

On entry into politics, Senator Akume registered as a member of the Defunct Congress for National Consensus, (CNC), one of the five registered political parties during the Sani Abacha’s transition to civilian Rule Programme, he sought the governorship ticket on that party’s plat form.

At the inception of General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime, after the sudden demise of General Abacha on 8/6/1998, the new helmsman dismantled all political structures, set up by the Late General, and ordered the formation of new political parties.

The new dispensation afforded Senator Akume the opportunity to further realize his ambition in partisan politics. He actively participated in the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and contested election on the party’s platform in 1999 for the office of governor. He was elected Executive Governor of Benue State with a landslide. He was re-elected for a second term in 2003, again with a landslide.
In 2011, Senator George Akume moved to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for lack of justice and fairness in the PDP and joined hands with other progressive minds to change the socio – political and economic face of the nation; and was re – elected as Senator of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, this time, on the platform of ACN. What a feat! He was subsequently elected Senate Minority Leader by The Minority Caucus of the Senate between 2011 to 2015. Sen. Dr. George Akume is the Leader of the All Progressives Congress in the North Central of Nigeria and is currently seeking Reelection to the Nation Assembly for a record 4th Tenure in 2019.