Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against any attempt to influence the state’s political leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the people of Benue must be allowed to decide their political future.
Alia’s position was conveyed by his Special Assistant on Social Media Communications, Asortar James Asortar, who maintained that the state’s governorship should not be determined through private agreements or negotiations among influential political figures.
The warning comes amid reports of political activities linked to Wike’s Rainbow Coalition in Benue State, raising questions about the objectives of the alliance and its possible implications for the state’s 2027 governorship election.
The development has also drawn attention to the political relationships involving Alia, former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
Alia Demands Clarity on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition
In the statement, Alia’s aide challenged Wike, Ortom and Akume to explain the purpose of the reported coalition and clarify whether it was intended to influence the selection of Benue State’s next governor.
Asortar warned that any attempt to determine the state’s political future through arrangements outside established democratic processes would be unacceptable.
He stressed that political alliances should not undermine the right of Benue residents to choose their preferred leaders through credible democratic processes.
“Benue is not a political commodity, and its governorship is not for settlement in private political negotiations,” Asortar said.
He added that the coalition’s promoters should publicly explain its objectives to remove uncertainty surrounding its activities and intentions.
“If the reported coalition is merely a political alliance, its proponents should explain its objectives openly. If it involves any arrangement intended to influence Benue’s governorship, the people deserve transparency,” he said.
Benue Politics Different From Rivers Crisis
The statement drew a distinction between the political situation in Benue and the prolonged tensions in Rivers State involving Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Wike, who governed Rivers State before his appointment as FCT minister, has remained an influential political figure in the state. His disagreement with Fubara has been associated with disputes over party structures, political loyalty and control of the state’s political machinery.
Alia’s position suggests that his administration does not want political arrangements associated with other states to determine the direction of Benue politics ahead of the next governorship election.
His aide argued that political actors should not assume that strategies used to influence political developments elsewhere could automatically be replicated in Benue.
The warning also places renewed focus on the relationships among key political figures in the state as parties and political groups begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Alia’s Aide Calls for Internal Democracy
Beyond the reported coalition, the statement called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties to uphold internal democracy and respect the rights of their members.
Asortar maintained that the selection of candidates for the 2027 elections should follow established party procedures rather than decisions imposed by individuals because of their political influence.
The statement argued that party members and voters should have a meaningful role in determining candidates and political leadership.
It also stressed the importance of transparency in political alliances, particularly where their activities could affect the emergence of candidates for major elective positions.
The reported coalition’s objectives and any alleged plan to influence Benue’s governorship were not independently established in the statement.
Alia’s Administration Highlights Road Projects, Salary Payments
While warning against political interference, the governor’s aide defended Alia’s administration, arguing that its performance should be assessed based on its record and plans for Benue State rather than the political calculations of influential individuals.
According to the statement, the administration has rehabilitated more than 550 kilometres of roads and constructed over 420 kilometres of new roads.
It also highlighted efforts to address inherited salary arrears and improve the payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements.
The aide presented these achievements as part of the administration’s record, insisting that the government should be judged on its work and development priorities.
The claims regarding road construction, rehabilitation and payment of outstanding entitlements were attributed to the governor’s aide.
2027 Elections Put Benue Political Alliances Under Spotlight
With the 2027 general elections approaching, political alliances and party arrangements are expected to remain central to discussions about candidate selection and the contest for the Benue governorship.
Alia’s warning signals his opposition to any political arrangement that he believes could undermine the state’s democratic process or limit the ability of residents to choose their leaders.
The statement also places Wike’s reported Rainbow Coalition under increased scrutiny in Benue, with calls for its promoters to clarify its purpose and intentions.
Whether the coalition will influence the state’s political alignments ahead of 2027 remains to be seen. For now, Alia’s position is that Benue’s political future must be determined through transparent democratic processes rather than private negotiations among powerful political actors.