Benue Governor Remains Silent Amid Defection Rumors to ADC

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

The rumors gained traction following the governor’s 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 event, organized by the APC National Working Committee, was meant to showcase party unity, but Alia’s delayed arrival, well after the endorsement had concluded, raised eyebrows.

A 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.”

Reports suggest that Alia had conditioned his participation on receiving a dual endorsement — one for Tinubu and another for his re-election in 2027 — a request that was reportedly rejected by party leaders.

Since then, sources have confirmed that the governor has been engaged in discreet talks with ADC leaders, allegedly facilitated by former Governor Gabriel Suswam. This has led to growing speculation of a potential defection, despite Governor Alia’s inner circle providing conflicting statements.

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

The rumors of a possible defection come against the backdrop of a deteriorating relationship between Governor Alia and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, his former political mentor. Since Alia’s inauguration in 2023, the two have been embroiled in a bitter feud, splitting the Benue APC into rival factions. Senator Akume is believed to control over 80% of the party’s structure in the state, while Governor Alia operates a parallel executive.

In a ruling on November 28, 2024, a Federal High Court in Makurdi reinstated Austin Agada as the APC State Chairman, further cementing Akume’s influence over the party machinery.

APC leaders from Benue South have been particularly vocal in criticizing Alia’s silence, accusing him of playing a dangerous political game that could hurt the party in the 2027 election.

“We in Benue South are not blind to what’s going on,” an APC chieftain from the region, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “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 continued, “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.”

As of now, Governor Alia has neither confirmed nor denied the rumors of his defection.

“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, a governor’s aide denied the rumors, stating that Alia was indeed present at the meeting. “There is nothing like that. The government will issue an official statement soon to put the lies making the rounds to rest,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.