Top Gov Alia campaign ally withdraws support, quits Alia Alliance

A founding member of the Alia Alliance and one of its most vocal supporters, Kelvins Iniongun Dzeremo, has officially withdrawn his support for the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, citing deep disappointment in the administration’s direction and unfulfilled expectations.

In a statement personally signed and made public on Saturday, Dzeremo also announced his resignation from the Alia Alliance, the support group that mobilized intellectual, social, and financial resources in 2022 to drive Fr. Alia’s gubernatorial ambition.

“When we came together in February 2022 to execute the project of stimulating and galvanising support for Fr. Alia, we did so with fierce motivation, unrestrained conviction, and unbridled passion,” Dzeremo wrote.

“But two years later, rather than joy, I feel consternation. In place of peace, my heart races in anxiety. Hope fades daily, and the likelihood of any positivity is now more of an illusion and a mirage.”

Describing his decision as irreversible and reached after long contemplation, Dzeremo said his support was based on a now-shattered belief that Fr. Alia would transform Benue and bring hope to its citizens.

“I probably would have done this much earlier, but I allowed for a two-year gestation period to ascertain the fruitfulness of the project we executed—or for my fears to be allayed… or validated,” he noted.

“I’m not pained because of the man I worked for; I’m pained because of my delusion of who he was; a delusion now shattered by the truth and reality of who he is.”

The statement, released from Abuja, also carried emotional reflections on those who contributed to the Alia movement but are now deceased.

“I cherish the friends I made while on this journey… and I deeply cherish the memories of the friends we’ve lost—Kenneth Tersoo Gyado, whose thoughtful insights led to our convergence; and Susan Ngodoo Agu, who gave her all to this cause. May God rest their amiable souls in peace,” Dzeremo said.

Despite his departure, Dzeremo offered prayers for the success of the Alia administration and advised the governor to keep posterity in mind.

“I pray for His Excellency and his administration. I pray he succeeds, and I wish him well. I do hope he bears in mind at all times the legacy he hopes to bequeath.”

Concluding, he stated that he would exit all Alia Alliance platforms by midnight on June 7, 2025, and reaffirmed his belief in conscience over conformity.

“Standing alone doesn’t mean you’re alone; it only means you’re strong enough to withstand the tides of life’s moments of turbulence.”

The statement has sparked a wave of discussions on social media and within Benue’s political circles, with many seeing it as a significant crack within the governor’s core support structure.