Amid escalating political tensions in Benue State, the North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has endorsed Governor Hyacinth Alia for a second term in 2027. This endorsement comes as the governor contends with challenges from within his party and opposition forces, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The endorsement followed the Forum’s inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects and development initiatives in Benue State. Announcing the decision in Abuja, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, Chairman of the North-Central APC Forum and a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 election, commended the governor for his transformative efforts in the state despite distractions from political rivals.
The Forum highlighted projects such as underpass constructions in Makurdi and Gboko aimed at reducing traffic congestion and enhancing the state’s appeal to investors, as well as the rehabilitation of major roads across local government areas. Other initiatives include the ongoing transformation of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital with a N1.6 billion waterworks project and the establishment of a cancer center. The “Light-Up Makurdi” solar-powered streetlight project and various industrial and agricultural ventures were also praised for their potential to boost the economy and create jobs.
The Forum noted that Governor Alia is silently repositioning Benue State, previously regarded as underdeveloped, into a hub of economic activity. They urged the national leadership of the APC, including President Bola Tinubu and National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, to protect the governor from political interference, describing him as a valuable asset to the party in the North-Central region.
The political crisis in Benue, marked by the factionalization of the state’s APC chapter due to the governor’s face-off with Akume, has raised concerns about its impact on Alia’s reelection bid. The Forum accused Akume of forming an alliance with Ortom to destabilize the APC in the state and emphasized that such alliances serve only selfish interests.
The Forum declared that Governor Alia’s focus on transformative governance should not be derailed by political godfathers and called for robust support from the party’s national leadership. They further expressed confidence that protecting and encouraging the governor would inspire similar developmental strides in other states within the North-Central region.
The endorsement sets the stage for a high-stakes political contest as 2027 approaches, with Governor Alia’s developmental agenda and political resilience under scrutiny.
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