The North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has endorsed Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia for a second term in 2027, amid the political tussle in the state following the face-off between the governor and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume.
The political crisis in the state is further heightened by the feud between Alia and his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The North-Central APC Forum backed Alia for a second term after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects and other initiatives being implemented by the governor in Benue State.
The APC Forum announced the endorsement in a statement released by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, on Wednesday in Abuja.
In the statement, Zazzaga, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the 2023 election, disclosed that projects inspected include ongoing rehabilitation of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, where the governor is constructing a N1.6 billion waterworks project, as well as the underpass projects in Makurdi, the state capital, and Gboko.
Members of the North-Central APC Forum, who undertook the inspection in their numbers, equally observed ongoing work on several road construction projects, including 16 roads in Makurdi and within Zone A, the Manyam–Unongo Village–Adikpo (23km) and Tyowanye–Uga (21km) roads in Kwande and Buruku LGAs, as well as renovation of the 40-year-old State Secretaria and the State Assembly.
The APC Forum, which noted that Alia is silently turning Benue State around with his projects despite opposition to his administration from some political leaders in the state, said it is backing the governor for a second term to enable him consolidate on his vision for the state, and by extension, the North-Central zone.
Alia is locked in a political battle with the SGF, Akume, a leader of the APC in Benue State, as well as Ortom, leader of the PDP in the state.
There are speculations that the face-off with Akume, which has led to the factionalization of the Benue chapter of the APC, could cost Alia a second term.
However, the North-Central APC Forum urged the governor to continue with his mission to transform Benue and not be distracted by “spent forces” who are only after their selfish interests.
Parts of the statement read, “The North-Central APC Forum on Tuesday, 13th January 2025, inspected major ongoing projects being executed by the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Benue State. The Forum has also assessed other initiatives being implemented by the Alia administration.
“The need for the inspection and assessment, as conducted by members of the North-Central APC Forum, followed concerns that the opposition faced by the governor due to the needless political crisis in the state could affect governance.
The North-Central APC Forum is glad to observe that despite distractions, Governor Hyacinth Alia is silently turning Benue State around with a number of laudable, impactful projects. These projects, when completed, would not only improve the economy of the state, they would also change the image of Benue as a rural, under-developed state.
“The underpass projects in Makurdi and Gboko, which are part of an urban renewal initiative, when completed, will address the traffic congestion, in addition to boosting the aesthetic and revenue base of the state as well as attracting investment.
“The APC Forum equally observed that 16 strategic roads within Makurdi metropolis have either been completed or are nearing completion. The ‘Light-up Makurdi’ streetlight project, which relies on solar power technology, has reached an advanced stage, giving the state capital an impressive facelift. This project aims to position Makurdi to compete with other reputable state capitals in the country.
“The Alia administration has already transformed the Benue University Teaching Hospital, which was neglected by previous administrations. Governor Alia’s commitment to upgrading the hospital is demonstrated by the donation of the sum of N2 billion for the establishment of cancer center in the institution.”
The North-Central APC Forum further highlighted the establishment of polythene and nylon factory, nail production company, fashion and ICT hub, and expansion of bread and water factories by the Benue Investments and Property Company Limited, under Alia’s administration.
Lauding Alia for the development, the APC Forum emphasized the economic benefits of the initiatives, which are projected to create 300 direct and 400 indirect jobs.
The North-Central APC Forum also highlighted a major project of Alia’s administration, the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape, ACReSAL. Initiatives under the ACReSAL Project include rehabilitation of dilapidated dams such as Adoka-Icho Dam in Otukpo and Naka Dam in Gwer West, renovation and upgrading of agricultural produce warehouses/agro hubs across all 23 local government areas and distribution of solar-powered irrigation pumps to farmer groups in the senatorial districts.
Giving Alia a passmark for the projects, the North-Central APC Forum urged President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, to protect Alia as a “valuable asset” of the party.
“Having inspected, first hand, the silent revolution going on in Benue State, the North-Central APC Forum hereby gives Governor Hyacinth Alia a passmark and endorse him for a second term, to continue and consolidate on his ongoing initiatives.
“The North-Central APC Forum is not unaware of attempts by some self-centered politicians to stop the governor from working for the common good of the people of Benue State, who have over the years been neglected by successive administrations, leading to Benue being regarded as an under-developed, backward state, despite its abundant human and natural resources.
“Governor Alia has taken it upon himself to change the narrative and he deserves all the support needed to complete the arduous task he has taken upon himself. The North-Central APC Forum advises that Governor Alia should not be distracted by spent forces, who failed to work for the long-suffering Benue people when they were in power and have now ganged up against him.
“We urge President Bola Tinubu, the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and other leaders of the party to protect Governor Hyacinth Alia, who we have identified as a valuable asset of the party in the North-Central.
“The exploits of Governor Alia in Benue could have a ripple effect in other North-Central states if he is protected by the President and the national leadership of the party, as that will encourage other governors to replicate similar developmental strides in their states.
“We make a case that the President and the national leadership of the party should go out of their way to protect performing governors and other public officials identified as valuable assets of the party, due to their performance in office. A situation whereby some so called godfathers or kingmakers gang up to frustrate performing governors or public officials who refuse to bend to their selfish interests should no longer be allowed.”
GOVIMA reported that the North-Central APC Forum had asked The Presodent Bola Tinubu to ‘watch’ Akume for forging an alliance with Ortom against Alia. The Forum said the alliance between Akume and Ortom suggests that the AGF was working with opposition politicians to destabilize the APC in the North-Central zone.
