The Benue State Government has dismissed reports claiming that Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia intends to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a purported “secret meeting” with Senator Iyorchia Ayu, describing the story as a baseless fabrication.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula, labelled the circulating report as a “wicked, mischievous, and vicious smear campaign” aimed at diverting the governor’s attention from governance and misleading the presidency for political gain.
Kula emphasised that Governor Alia routinely engages with elder statesmen and national figures without political or religious bias, noting that such meetings are part of his inclusive leadership style and development-focused agenda.
“The governor considers visits to respected leaders, including those of Senator Ayu’s standing, as normal and aligned with his commitment to advancing Benue’s development,” the statement said.
The government also highlighted that Governor Alia has consistently reached out to influential stakeholders in Benue, many of whom have subsequently joined the APC. Notable figures include former Senator Prof. David Iornem, Elder David Iorwashima Amo, and Ambassador Terhemen Tarzoor.
Kula pointed out that the APC in Benue continues to attract opposition figures across several local government areas, with defection events occurring regularly. “Such engagements have strengthened the party rather than weakened it,” he added.
The statement stressed that the true political situation in Benue reflects the steady expansion of the APC under Governor Alia’s leadership, rather than the “fiction being circulated by mischief makers.”
Governor Alia remains committed to consolidating the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, with officials noting that he is open to engaging even his strongest opponents as part of a broader strategy to strengthen his administration and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The public was urged to ignore the concocted story, which officials described as an attempt to create confusion and undermine the administration’s progress in Benue State.
