The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially declared Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State as the winner of the party's governorship primary election. The announcement ended days of uncertainty and speculation following social media rumors that his name was missing from the list of screened aspirants.
Primary Election Results
Announcing the results at the APC state secretariat in Makurdi on Friday, the Chairman and Chief Returning Officer of the Governorship Primary Election Committee, Mohammed Isa, stated that Governor Alia secured 367,786 votes. His closest rivals, Jeffrey Kuraun and Terwase Orbunde, garnered 2,923 and 3,247 votes, respectively.
Adoption of Results
In accordance with APC guidelines, Solomon Wombo, the member representing Katsina-Ala/Logo/Ukum Federal Constituency and representative of Benue North-East Senatorial District, moved a motion for the adoption of the result. The motion was seconded by Nigeria's former ambassador to Namibia, Dr. Terhemen Tarzoor. Wilfred Adagene, a close ally of the governor representing Benue South Senatorial District, affirmed the motion, describing the declaration as a true reflection of the primary election outcome.
Acceptance Speech
In his acceptance speech, Governor Alia expressed gratitude to God and the people of Benue State for granting him another opportunity to serve. He stated, "I am grateful to God for His benevolence and for the opportunity to continue serving Benue State." The governor commended the other aspirants for their participation and thanked President Bola Tinubu and the APC national leadership for ensuring a transparent process.
Development Achievements
Governor Alia noted that he was encouraged by the support and appreciation shown by the people, emphasizing that his administration's investments in roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure projects had not gone unnoticed. "When we were building hospitals and constructing roads, I did not know the people of Benue were watching and appreciative," he remarked.
Commitment to Citizens
The governor assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of ordinary citizens, insisting he remained committed to serving the masses. "I am here for you, and I will continue to work for you," he added. He also highlighted efforts to create employment opportunities, noting that many young people in the state were already benefiting from companies established under his government.
Confidence for 2027
Expressing confidence ahead of the 2027 governorship election, Governor Alia described Benue as an APC stronghold, adding that "a vote for me is a vote for the President."
