BREAKING: Gov Alia opens up on alleged plans to join El-Rufai in SDP

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has dismissed speculations about his alleged defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, in Makurdi, Alia described the rumors as baseless, attributing them to mischief-makers attempting to sow discord between him and President Bola Tinubu.

“These falsehoods not only miss the mark but also reveal a deep misunderstanding of my relationship with the president,” Alia said.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the APC, stating that he had never considered leaving the party that brought him into office. He also dismissed claims of aligning with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for a defection to the SDP.

“The suggestion that I am contemplating a shift to the SDP alongside Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and others is not only laughable but completely unfounded,” he stated.

Alia also accused detractors of manipulating old pictures to spread misinformation, including false claims that El-Rufai recently visited Makurdi.

“They forget that security reports accompany such visits. No such thing happened,” he added.

The governor, who described himself as the leader of the APC in Benue, highlighted his efforts in reviving the party, which he said was on the verge of collapse before the 2019 elections.

“Our remarkable performance in office has not only strengthened the APC but has also sent the opposition into hiding,” he boasted.

He emphasized that since assuming office, his administration had worked tirelessly to reposition Benue in alignment with the Federal Government, resulting in various benefits, including key political appointments for Benue indigenes.

“Our commitment to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda is evident in the development strides we are recording across the state,” he said.