By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has endorsed the State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, and his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, as sole candidates for the 2027 gubernatorial election in the State.
Similarly, the party also endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as the only presidential ticket of the party they would support in the state in 2027.
The party took the decision on Thursday at IBB Square, Makurdi, the State capital, during the second anniversary in office celebration of Gov. Alia.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State House of Assembly representing Logo State Constituency, Hon. Jiji supported the endorsement, saying he was moved by the achievements of the Governor in the last two years in office.
Speaking during the occasion, the APC Caretaker Chairman in the State, Mr. Benjamin Omale, while leading party faithful in the endorsements, noted that the Governor has done a lot to transform the state and his achievements in office speak for him, describing Alia as a blessing to Benue people.
Appealing to the people to support the Governor to continue to execute people- oriented projects, the Chairman stressed that the leadership of the party in the state would remain loyal to the Governor even as he insisted that anyone that chooses to contest with the Governor would be wasting time.
Addressing Benue people during the occasion, Gov. Alia, who appreciated the party leadership for the endorsements, said that he would work harder in the remaining two years and the four years in his second term in office.
Alia enumerated his achievements in office in the last two years to include the construction of roads in the three senatorial zones, provision of 100 buses to Benue Links to ease transportation problem, provision of farm inputs to farmers to promote agriculture, prompt payment of salaries and pension and proactive approaches to security threats in the state, among others.
Lamenting the security challenges staring Benue people in the face, the Gov. assured that the challenge would soon become a thing of the past, adding also that about 40,000 civil servants received training on e-governance so as to digitalise governance in the state.
In his comment, the Chairman, APC Elders’ Forum in the State, Chief Barnabas Gemade, appreciated the Gov. for the “wonderful work” he has done in the last two years, assuring him of the full support of Benue people.
Gemade said no one in APC would run against him in 2027.
Chairman of the occasion, Brig. Gen. John Atom Kpera (rtd), in his remarks, lauded the transformative efforts of the Gov. and sued for support for him to continue with “the good work” even as he encouraged Alia to maintain the spirit.
