Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State yesterday ruled out widespread report of his alleged plot to dump the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after he visited former President of the Senate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu in his Makurdi residence.
Governor Alia on Tuesday, held a close door meeting with Senator Ayu at Ayu’s residence on Nyesom Wike road in Makurdi, which lasted for more than two hours.
Political observers in the state said the meeting was reportedly part of preparation for the governor’s imminent defection to the ADC.
But in a swift response, Governor Alia described the allegation as not only fabricated and malicious but also a fake story urging the public to ignore it.
Governor Alia, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, said the ‘narrative is laughable, and it is nothing but a wicked, mischievous, and vicious smear campaign orchestrated to distract the Governor from his focused governance and to deceive the Presidency for selfish political gains’.
Alia contended that he “has been visiting leaders and elder statesmen devoid of political or religious inclination since he assumed office, noting that as a governor with a liberal vision for development, he reserves the right to visit any elder statesman, especially leaders of Sen. Ayu’s calibre”.
Alia said as far as he is concerned, “such visits are normal, respectable, and consistent with his inclusive leadership style”.
In fact, I have been reaching out to prominent elders across Benue and winning them into the APC fold, notable examples include 3rd Republic Senator, Prof. David Iornem , Elder David Iorwashima Amo, Amb. Terhemen Tarzoor among others.
“These engagements have strengthened the party rather than weakened it.
“Presently, under my clear directives, opposition structures across Benue State are collapsing daily into the APC, with defection ceremonies taking place in virtually all local government areas, with influential figures abandoning their former platforms to join the ruling party in unprecedented numbers.
“This is the true political reality in Benue, not the fiction being circulated by mischief makers”.
He said he remains firmly committed to building a united, dominant APC in Benue State.
The governor said he is prepared to engage even the fiercest political opponents and bring them into the party as part of a broader strategy for 2027 consolidation, both for his administration and for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
