“I Am Not Leaving APC”, Governor Alia Insists , Amidst Rift With SGF

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Benue State Governor,  Hyacinth Alia, on Sunday May 25,2025 vehemently rejected claims linking him with an exit from the All Progressive Congress, APC .

There have been growing speculations about the Governor’s moves to perfect his defection to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, a platform that is being associated with the anti-Tinubu coalition.

The rumoured defection  of the Governor is  a direct fall out from his strained relationship with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation ,and former Governor of the State George Akume.

The two are said to  be locked in a bitter struggle for the control of the structure of APC in Benue state .

The tussle reportedly became public after the  Local Council Elections.  The rift between the two power houses is blamed on the location of the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal sitting from Markurdi the state capital to Abuja .

Similarly, the location of the tribunal sitting to Abuja by the State Chief Judge allegedly on the promptings of Akume, is believed to be at the root of the move by the State House of Assembly to remove the Chie  Judge from office.

But reacting to the alleged move by the Governor to  quit APC , Tersoo Kula ,his Media Aide, in a statement on Sunday, described the reports as” laughable and lame.

While debunking the rumoured defection as fake, the Governor’s spokesperson insisted that there is no crisis within the ranks of APC in the State.

Describing the Governor’s relationship with the Party Leadership and chieftains in the State as cordial, Kula maintained that the Governor has no intention to leave the APC now or in the near future.

“We read online wherein they alleged that Governor Hyacinth Alia is plotting to leave the APC amidst the brewing crisis in the Benue APC .

“For the unsuspecting public, the story is not true.

“There is no doubt about the Governor’s loyalty to the APC. He  has been an active participant in the affairs of the party, including the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC sole candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election .

“The Governor’s presence at  APC’s recent events, including the Zonal and National meetings at the Presidential Villa proves that he is aligned with the party.

“The APC leadership in the state is in no crisis as claimed in the unfounded report. The Party under the chairmanship of Hon. Benjamin Omale has a super working relationship with the Governor and has been performing its functions effectively”, Kula added.

According to the Media Aide, it will be strange for  Governor Alia to be contemplating leaving APC at a time most opposition party Governors and others are jostling to join the party.

“At a time opposition Governors are joining the APC due to the policies and performance of the party under president Tinubu, it is laughable for any one to suggest that the Governor is contemplating defection from the party he is sponsoring in Benue state”, he asserted