Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed speculation that he is planning to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, in Makurdi, Governor Alia made it clear that he has never considered leaving the party that brought him to power. He described the rumors as baseless attempts to create division between him and President Bola Tinubu.
“These claims are not only false but also show a complete misunderstanding of my strong relationship with the president,” Alia stated.
He also refuted reports linking him to a political alliance with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and others. According to him, detractors have manipulated old photographs to support their narrative, even falsely claiming that El-Rufai visited Makurdi without any security records to back up the claim.
As the leader of the APC in Benue, Alia emphasized that he played a crucial role in reviving the party, which was struggling before the 2019 elections. He credited his administration’s achievements with strengthening the APC in the state and weakening the opposition.
“A wise leader builds a solid foundation rather than seeking refuge elsewhere. Since assuming office, we have worked hard to strengthen Benue’s ties with the Federal Government, leading to numerous benefits, including key appointments for our people,” he said.
Governor Alia reiterated his dedication to President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, highlighting the developmental strides his administration has made in Benue. He assured that any attempts to undermine his leadership would ultimately fail.
