In a calculated display of defiance and ambition, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state, may dump the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of 2027 general elections
The governor had boycotted the party’s high-profile endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The endorsement event, hosted at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa by the APC’s National Working Committee, was aimed at consolidating party unity ahead of the next election cycle. …CONTINUE READING
However, Governor Alia’s conspicuous absence sent shockwaves through party leadership and reinforced concerns over his growing dissent and rebellion within party ranks.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that in the days leading up to the endorsement, Governor Alia aggressively pushed for a dual endorsement—one that would recognize his reelection bid despite his ongoing disputes with the state’s APC leadership.
When the party hierarchy rejected his demands, Alia reportedly stormed out of negotiations, boycotted the event, and accelerated talks with alternative political platforms.
Since assuming office, he has frequently clashed with key APC stakeholders in Benue, most notably Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a dominant force in state politics.
Tensions reached a peak when Governor Alia attempted to unilaterally remove Mr. Austin Agada, the APC State Chairman known for his loyalty to Akume.
The move was widely criticized within the party as unlawful and autocratic, and a Federal High Court in Makurdi, presided over by Justice Kume, overturned Alia’s action on November 28, 2024. The ruling upheld Agada’s position, delivering a significant blow to Alia’s efforts to take full control of the party machinery in Benue.
Undeterred, the governor entrenched a factional structure within the state, operating with a parallel executive and systematically sidelining dissenters.
Political analysts now believe Alia’s overtures to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) represent a calculated exit strategy from the APC. Reports indicate that negotiations—led by former Governor Gabriel Suswam and top ADC operatives—are at an advanced stage.
Further complicating the political landscape is Alia’s covert alliance with Suswam, a prominent chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sources confirm that Alia discreetly financed Suswam’s failed bid for PDP National Chairman, a move that stunned even close aides and underscored Alia’s willingness to forge cross-party alliances for strategic gain.
As the 2027 election approaches, Alia’s political gamble could either propel him to a new center of power or leave him politically stranded. What remains clear is that Governor Alia has charted a path not as a loyal party man, but as a political maverick determined to redefine his relevance—regardless of the cost.
