“Benue is drifting” – Gov Alia’s kinsmen vow to oppose his 2027 re-election bid

Kinsmen of Governor Hyacinth Alia from the Kunav bloc of Vandeikya local government area of Benue state have declared that they will oppose his re-election bid in the 2027 governorship election.

The group, made up of six governorship aspirants drawn from different political parties, announced the decision at a joint press conference held in Makurdi at the weekend.

The press conference was titled “Benue at 50: reflection, responsibility and the future we must reclaim”.

Addressing journalists, Dennis Ityavyar, Joseph Waya, Paul Angya, Terhemba Shija, Dominic Terkaa Ucha and Godwin Ityoachimin said Benue was drifting despite its 50 years of statehood.

They said the situation was unacceptable given what they described as significant financial inflows and the constitutional powers vested in the state government.

The aspirants cited persistent attacks on communities, irregular payment of salaries, decaying infrastructure and weak institutional capacity as evidence of leadership failure.

They said Benue generated about ₦20.43 billion as internally generated revenue in 2024, representing about 0.56 percent of total subnational revenue.

The group argued that the figure falls short of the state’s agricultural potential.

They also alleged that although Benue received over ₦400 billion from the federation account allocation committee (FAAC) within the same period, many ministries, departments and agencies remained underfunded.

The aspirants said transparency in public finance management under the current administration was weak and expressed concern over worsening insecurity in the state.

They cited an attack on Abande community market in Mbaikyor ward of Kwande local government area last Wednesday, where at least 17 people, including a mobile police officer, were reportedly killed.

The group said repeated attacks in Guma, Logo, Ukum, Apa, Makurdi and Kwande local government areass, as well as the growing number of internally displaced persons, show the need for more proactive leadership.

Responding, Tersoo Kula, spokesman to the governor, dismissed the press conference as politically motivated.

Kula described the allegations as misleading and malicious, adding that the Alia administration has implemented reforms in public finance management, civil service efficiency, security coordination and infrastructure development.

Kula said the government has blocked revenue leakages, curbed payroll fraud and revived abandoned projects.

He added that the administration has invested in agro-industrial initiatives, education and community-based security efforts.

Kula urged critics to engage constructively rather than politicise insecurity and humanitarian challenges in the state.