Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has dismissed rumors suggesting that he plans to defect to the Social Democratic Party, reaffirming his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress and emphasizing that he will not leave the party for anyone.
In a statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia attributed the false rumors to unnamed politicians in Abuja who, according to him, are behind the smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The statement read, “Regarding the recent dubious claims spreading in diverse media and social networks, we feel it is essential to ward off these deceptions that aim to hurt the prominence of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Governor of Benue State.”
Governor Alia also accused certain discontented politicians of attempting to create division between him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “The persistently discontented politicians in Abuja, prompted by their own self-serving agendas, are once again enlisting in their customary ploys, making persuasive attempts to sow discord between Governor Alia and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the statement added.
According to the Governor’s office, the claims that Alia was considering a shift to the SDP, alongside former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, are baseless and unfounded. The statement dismissed these allegations, calling them “absolutely gratuitous and lacking any trustworthy evidence.”
The statement also referenced an attempt by detractors to bolster their false narrative by manipulating an old photo from a previous visit. “In an attempt to supply credence to their soaring fictions, these detractors have resorted to recycling an innocuous picture from an old visit, which has been manipulated to complete their account,” it noted.
Governor Alia’s office pointed out that security reports would have been available for any official visit from the former Governor of Kaduna State, as speculated by the rumors.
Alia also reaffirmed his role as the leader of the APC in Benue State, highlighting his contributions to reviving the party. “Governor Alia is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State and has successfully resurrected the party which was on the threshold of recession prior to the 2019 elections,” the statement concluded.
It further stated that his impressive performance in office had not only strengthened the APC but also forced opposition parties to retreat.
