…Extends olive branch to contenders
The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has declared that his emergence as the Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections, was the outcome of a “unanimous approval” of his administration’s performance across critical sectors in Benue State.
Governor Alia, who stated this while accepting his victory at the Governorship primary of the APC, described his victory as “a mandate for continuity,”.
While thanking party faithful for what the overwhelming show of confidence in his leadership and vision for a prosperous Benue, Alia praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring a level playing field during the APC primaries, and also commended the national leadership of the party under Professor Nentawe Yilwatda and the Benue APC leadership led by Chief Benjamin Omale for conducting a peaceful and transparent exercise.
Governor Alia, who is running for his second term in office expected to start from 2027-2031, extended a hand of fellowship to fellow aspirants, urging them to unite behind the party’s common goal of securing victory in the 2027 elections and sustaining ongoing developmental projects across the state.
The results of the gubernatorial primaries of the APC which held on Thursday, May 20, 2026 were officially declared on Friday, May 21, 2026 at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi by the Chairman of the APC Governorship Primaries Committee, Professor Mohammed Kabiru Isa.
Prof Isa announced that declared that Governor Alia having scored highest number of votes cast amounting to 367,786 was returned as duly elected as the APC Governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Governor Alia’s closest contender, Dr. Terwase Orbunde polled a total of 3,247 votes.
Highlighting the achievements of his administration in the last three years, Alia reeled out a scorecard spanning education, industrialization, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital innovation.
The Governor said that the state has witnessed the establishment and revival of several industries under the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), including the brewery that is now producing “Zeva Premium Beer” and “Oyi Bitters,” alongside water, bakery, nails, polythene and fruit juice factories.
Alia further disclosed that his administration has remodelled and equipped the Benue State University Teaching Hospital into a modern medical hub, rehabilitated over 100 primary healthcare centres across the state, and constructed more than 500 kilometres of roads across the state, including underpasses in Makurdi and Gboko.
He pointed out that in the educational sector, over 400 classroom blocks are currently under construction or remodelling across public primary schools, while more than 10,000 teachers have been recruited to strengthen learning outcomes.
Alia also said that the newly established Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology at Ihugh was strategically designed to produce science and agro-technology driven graduates capable of solving practical societal challenges.
He emphasized his administration’s digital transformation agenda, revealing partnerships with Microsoft and Google to train over 10,000 youths in ICT, alongside ongoing e-governance training for civil servants.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue Staten Sir Tersoo Kula, stated that Governor Alia appealed for peace and unity across political, ethnic and religious divides, assuring Benue citizens that he would continue to govern with the fear of God, transparency, compassion and accountability.
Alia stressed that his acceptance of the APC Governorship ticket was not a personal triumph, but a call to greater service.
