Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, has made a striking declaration, stating that politicians can only find divine purpose and comfort within the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
A Spiritual Endorsement at Kaduna Event
The governor made this assertion on Tuesday while attending a significant event in Kaduna. The occasion was the distribution of food items for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, an initiative spearheaded by Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Alia framed the APC not just as a political platform but as a sanctuary. "The APC is where you can find God. You can only find solace in the All Progressives Congress," he proclaimed, lending a deeply spiritual dimension to the political discourse.
Imminent Defection of PDP Lawmakers
Governor Alia bolstered his claim with a revelation about the political landscape in Benue State's legislative house. He shared a recent conversation with the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, which occurred during the budget presentation in Makurdi.
According to the governor, the Speaker informed him that six remaining members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the assembly are already aligned with the APC "in spirit." This spiritual alignment, Alia suggested, is a precursor to their formal physical defection.
"Just yesterday, during the budget presentation at the Benue State House of Assembly in Makurdi, the Speaker told me that the remaining six PDP assembly members are already in the APC in spirit," Alia recounted. He added with confidence, "We will soon celebrate them physically in the party where one can find God and solace the APC."
Political Repercussions and Realignment
This statement signals a potential further consolidation of the APC's hold in Benue State. If the defection of the six PDP members materializes, it would significantly alter the balance of power within the state assembly, strengthening the governor's legislative agenda.
The governor's fusion of religious rhetoric with political mobilization is a notable strategy, aiming to frame party affiliation in moral and spiritual terms. This development underscores the ongoing political realignments happening across various states ahead of future electoral cycles.
The event in Kaduna, which served as the backdrop for this announcement, highlighted the national reach of such political narratives, connecting state-level dynamics with the broader agenda of the party's national leadership.
