Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has refuted claims that he is preparing to leave the All Progressives Congress, describing reports linking him to a planned move to the African Democratic Congress as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The allegation, circulated on social media, suggested the governor secretly visited former Senate President Senator Iyorchia Ayu to finalise a defection plan.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 26, by his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Terso, Alia dismissed the story as “laughable, wicked, mischievous, and a vicious smear campaign,” adding that it was crafted to distract him from his duties and sow confusion at the national level.
The statement, titled “Mischievous fake story on Governor Alia’s alleged defection to ADC,” clarified that the governor’s recent visits to influential Benue elders were not politically driven.
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“Instead, Alia said the engagements were part of his administration’s effort to include more stakeholders in governance.
He listed those he had met—among them Senator Prof. David Iornem, Elder David Iorwashima Amo, Ambassador Terhemen Tarzoor, and Senator Ayu—and emphasised that the meetings were consistent with his drive to strengthen the APC in the state.
According to the statement, opposition groups across Benue are “collapsing daily into the APC,” with defection ceremonies occurring in nearly all local government areas.
Alia reaffirmed his commitment to consolidating the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, saying he was willing to engage even “the fiercest political opponents” to build a stronger political structure for both his administration and President Bola Tinubu.
He urged residents to disregard the rumour, warning that its purpose was to undermine the momentum of the ruling party.