Disquiet in Benue APC as defection rumours swirl around Governor Alia

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has remained silent amid growing speculation that he may defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

This comes after the reports of governor’s alleged unexpected absence from a major APC event at the Presidential Villa where President Bola Ahmed tinubu was officially endorsed as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The high-profile event, organised by the APC National Working Committee, was intended to project party unity, but Governor Alia’s late arrival, long after the endorsement had concluded, sparked defection rumours.

A party source who attended the event told this newspaper: “The endorsement was nearly over and everyone was asking, ‘Where is Governor Alia?’ We knew he was in Abuja, he even attended the North Central meeting earlier that day. Someone eventually called him, and he rushed down, but by then it was too late.”

Insiders now revealed that Governor Alia had conditioned his participation on receiving a dual endorsement: one for tinubu and another for his own re-election in 2027, a request flatly rejected by party leaders.

In the aftermath, sources confirmed that Alia has intensified covert discussions with ADC leaders, allegedly brokered by former Governor Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state.

The development has left the governor’s inner circle fractured, with aides offering contradictory statements.

While some maintain that Alia remains committed to the APC, others acknowledge that “serious consultations” with the ADC are underway.

These developments come against the backdrop of a bitter feud between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, his erstwhile political godfather. Since Alia’s inauguration in 2023, their relationship has deteriorated, splintering the Benue APC into rival factions.

Senator Akume is believed to control more than 80% of the APC’s structure in the state, while Governor Alia operates a parallel executive, having attempted and failed to unseat the APC State Chairman, Austin Agada, a staunch Akume ally.

A Federal High Court in Makurdi ruled on November 28, 2024, reinstating Agada and affirming Akume’s grip on the party machinery.

Party leaders from Benue South are especially critical of the governor’s silence, accusing him of playing a dangerous political game that could cost the APC dearly in 2027.

“We in Benue South are not blind to what’s going on,” said an APC chieftain from the zone who asked not to be named.

“Governor Alia is playing hide and seek with the APC. His body is in the party, but his heart is clearly somewhere else. He should stop pretending and come clean with the people who voted for him.”

He added: “You cannot demand loyalty from the party while flirting with those determined to destroy it. If Alia is done with the APC, he should have the decency to say so.”

So far, Governor Alia has neither confirmed nor denied the swirling defection rumours.

“The governor’s silence is loud,” said a political strategist in Makurdi.

“And in politics, silence at a time like this is often the clearest confirmation.”

Meanwhile, an aide to the governor told our reporter that the story is untrue, as the governor was present during the meeting.

“There is nothing like that. The government will issue an official statement soon to put the lies making the rounds to rest,” said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to comment publicly.