Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has firmly refuted rumors suggesting his planned defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Speculations had been rife that Governor Alia, alongside former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, was orchestrating a move to the SDP, a claim he has categorically denied.
In an official statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia described the rumors as baseless and the work of mischief-makers aiming to create discord between him and President Bola Tinubu. He emphasized his unwavering commitment to the APC and his administration's alignment with the president's policies and vision for Nigeria.
"These falsehoods not only miss the mark but also expose a deep misunderstanding of my relationship with the president," Alia stated, reaffirming his loyalty to the APC. He dismissed the notion of defecting to the SDP, labeling it as laughable and unfounded.
Governor Alia also addressed claims of a recent visit by Nasir El-Rufai to Makurdi, the Benue State capital, purportedly to finalize defection plans. He clarified that no such visit occurred and accused detractors of recycling old photographs to propagate their narrative. "They forget that security reports accompany such visits. No such thing happened," he asserted.
Highlighting his leadership role within the APC, Governor Alia credited his administration with revitalizing the party in Benue State, which he claimed was on the verge of collapse before the 2019 elections. He noted that the party's strengthened position has led to significant political appointments for Benue indigenes at the federal level, aligning with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.