Governor Alia allegedly sponsoring Olofu against Abba Moro — Peterhot; Adakole Elijah refutes claim

A media aide to Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, Apeh Peterhot, has alleged that Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is sponsoring Dr. David Olofu, a former commissioner from Apa Local Government, to contest against Moro in the Benue South Senatorial District in the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Sunday, Peterhot said, “So it’s the Governor, who is in APC, that is sponsoring the former Commissioner from Apa Local Government, who is in ADC, against Senator Abba Moro in the 2027 election? Omeifa!”

He added that he obtained “first-hand information” in Makurdi that the Governor is bent on removing Senator Moro as Zone C Senator. Peterhot questioned why the Governor would allegedly sponsor an aspirant from another party rather than backing a candidate from his own party.

“He [the Governor] feels the former Commissioner is more grounded and is the person who can be used against the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, PhD,” Peterhot said.

“It’s funny! This same man has not done anything for his people back home while he was Finance Commissioner. Ask his people it was Senator Abba Moro that brought light to his village after many years of being in the dark.”

Peterhot further alleged that a former governor, who is a lawyer, is being used to prepare the ADC governorship ticket for the Governor, should he fail to secure the APC ticket due to his reported disagreements with senior political figures in Abuja.

“So, since he knows Zone C would be a hard egg to crack, the best bet is to sponsor a willing aspirant from Zone C that can be at his command and control after the election,” he said.

He also criticized what he described as the Governor’s neglect of Zone C, noting, “The two roads he’s purportedly constructing is a six-year project.

The water project he’s been hailed for is nowhere to be found in any home in Otukpo or its environs. The Governor has not visited Otobi Akpa or the Akweya people since the attack and massacre began in 2025.”

Peterhot accused the Governor of using campaign incentives to buy support in the area. “But the established perception is that the Governor, who is the Chief Executive of the state, does not care about the Zone C people.

The Idoma people would not allow any kindergarten politician to come and take them backward in the name of politics. We say NO to any politician being sponsored by the Governor against the wish of the Benue South Senatorial District,” he said.

Responding to the allegation, a former Special Assistant to ex-Senate President David Mark, Dr. Adakole Elijah, described the claim as false, misleading, and politically motivated.

“The claim that Governor Alia is sponsoring Dr. Olofu against Senator Abba Moro is completely unfounded and should be disregarded,” Elijah said.

He accused Peterhot of relying on anonymous sources and spreading rumours, warning that such narratives could mislead the public and inflame political tensions.

“This is clearly an attempt to tarnish Dr. Olofu’s credibility as a senatorial aspirant. Political competition should be grounded in verifiable facts, ethical conduct, and performance, not propaganda,” Elijah said.

He added, “The public deserves the truth. Any political engagement must be conducted with integrity, not through the weaponisation of rumours.”

The controversy comes as stakeholders in Benue South begin positioning for the 2027 general elections, with multiple aspirants emerging in the race for the Senatorial seat.