BREAKING: Gov Alia opens up on alleged plan to dump APC

The Benue State Government has dismissed as false a circulating report claiming Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia is planning to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) after allegedly holding a secret meeting with former PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

In a statement on Wednesday, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, described the story as “a wicked, mischievous and vicious smear campaign aimed at distracting the Governor from his focused governance and deceiving the Presidency for selfish political gains.”

Kula stressed that Governor Alia’s visits to elder statesmen have no political colouration, noting that since taking office, the governor has routinely engaged leaders across Benue without regard to party or religious lines. According to him, “a Governor with a liberal vision for development like Alia should embrace all,” adding that such meetings are normal and reflect the governor’s inclusive leadership style.

It further noted that Alia has consistently reached out to prominent figures across Benue, many of whom have since aligned themselves with the APC.

Among those who recently moved into the party are former senator Prof. David Iornem, Elder David Iorwashima Amo, and Ambassador Terhemen Tarzoor. These engagements, the government said, have strengthened the APC rather than weakened it.

The statement added that opposition structures across the state are collapsing into the ruling party on a daily basis, with defection events taking place across nearly all local government areas as influential personalities join the APC in large numbers.

Governor Alia, the government emphasized, remains steadfast in his commitment to building a united and dominant APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

His outreach efforts, it said, include engaging even strong political rivals to consolidate support for both his administration and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The public was urged to disregard the “concocted” report, which the government described as a deliberate attempt to create confusion and undermine the growing influence of the APC under Governor Alia.