…Condemns ‘mischievous’ sponsored story on alleged move
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has described the rumours of his purported plans to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a laughable narrative that is nothing but wicked, mischievous, and vicious smear campaign orchestrated to distract him from his focused governance and to deceive the Presidency for selfish political gains.
Governor Alia, whom stated this while reacting what he noted was a fabricated and malicious report suggesting that he is preparing to defect from the APC to the ADC after a supposed “secret meeting” with Senator Iyorchia Ayu, emphasised that for the avoidance of doubt, since assumption of office, he has been visiting leaders and elder statesmen devoid of political or religious inclination.
A statement by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, stated that it should be noted that a Governor with a liberal vision for development like Alia should embrace all as he reserves the right to visit any elder statesman, especially leaders of Senator Ayu’s calibre.
The statement insisted that as far as Governor Alia is concerned, such visits were normal, respectable, and consistent with his inclusive leadership style.
It said that Governor Alia remains firmly committed to building a united, dominant APC in Benue State, thus prepared to engage even the fiercest political opponents and bring them into the party as part of a broader strategy for 2027 consolidation, both for his administration and for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It further stated; “In fact, the Governor has been reaching out to prominent elders across Benue and winning them into the APC fold, notable examples include 3rd Republic Senator, Prof. David Iornem, Elder David Iorwashima Amo, Amb. Terhemen Tarzoor among others.
“These engagements have strengthened the party rather than weakened it.
“Presently, under the clear directives of His Excellency, opposition structures across Benue State are collapsing daily into the APC, with defection ceremonies taking place in virtually all local government areas, with influential figures abandoning their former platforms to join the ruling party in unprecedented numbers.
“This is the true political reality in Benue, not the fiction being circulated by mischief makers,” it explained.
The statement therefore advised members of the public to disregard the concocted story in circulation, stressing that it was a deliberate distraction meant to sow confusion and undermine the growing strength of the APC under Governor Alia’s leadership.
