Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, a hotbed of insurgency
<h4>
Governor Hyacinth Alia Renews Battle With George Akume In Benue</h4>
<p><strong><a href="https://openlife.ng/">OpenLife Nigeria</a></strong> reports that Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, may have renewed his battle against his party godfather George Akume.</p>
<p>The political rise of Governor Hyacinth Alia has taken a turbulent turn as he faces another clash with George Akume, former governor of the State.</p>
<p>Catholic-priest-turned-governor Hyacinth Alia was a surprise choice for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the hotly contested 2023 polls in the religiously mixed Benue State. Though he joined the party just two months before the primaries, Alia’s prominence from ‘performing miracles’ across Benue ensured him widespread support from the Christian-dominated electorate.</p>
<p>Backed by George Akume, who has dominated the APC apparatus in Benue for more than a decade, Alia was handed the governorship ticket on a silver platter. His slogan ‘Yes Father’ resonated strongly, and even before the main election, his victory was considered assured. Many other APC candidates rode his coattails to clinch victories.</p>
<p>But after a meteoric rise from priest to governor, Alia has shown an independent streak that defies the patronage politics that enabled his candidacy. This has alienated powerful blocs in the APC who backed his shock election.</p>
<p><strong>‘Arrogant’ and ‘egocentric’ style</strong></p>
<p>The first signs of discord emerged after Alia’s inauguration in May when he resisted appointments recommended by party chieftains, insisting the candidates were not competent. He also launched a probe into local council leaders, sacking many who were deemed corrupt and installing interim replacements.</p>
<figure id="attachment_20880" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20880" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-20880" src="https://openlife.ng/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Tinubu-10-e1756055009625-300x234.png" alt="Governor Hyacinth Alia Renews Battle With George Akume In Benue
" width="300" height="234" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-20880" class="wp-caption-text"><em><strong>George Akume, enjoys Tinubu&#8217;s backing</strong></em></figcaption></figure>
<p>In a July press conference, aggrieved APC federal lawmakers in Benue accused Alia of nepotism, appointing only his kinsmen to key state posts. They say his governance style risks the party forfeiting the state in the next elections.</p>
<p>“Before he came into power, there was a tradition of consulting party elders and the executive council on appointments, but Alia has rubbished that process,” said <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/">Philip Agbese</a>, the deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives.</p>
<p>The lawmakers described Alia as ‘ungrateful’ after being given the ticket by Akume and the party. “He doesn’t even carry cabinet members along. Even during Christmas, they were hungry,” Agbese said, arguing that Alia has done little to address state needs.</p>
<p><strong>Appeal to President Tinubu</strong></p>
<p>With Alia reportedly ignoring their pleas and rendering himself incommunicado, the disgruntled legislators appealed to APC leader President Bola Tinubu to intervene, as he has done to settle disputes in other.</p>
<p>“We have decided to draw the attention of [the] president and other APC leaders to the arrogant and egocentric conduct of Governor Alia,” said Senator Titus Zam.<br />
By September, Alia had been declared a persona non grata by many party officials, with his portraits removed from local APC offices.<br />
<strong>Battle for control of parliament</strong></p>
<p>A tussle over the speakership of the state parliament in June further pitted Alia against the party machine, controlled by George Akume, a former governor.</p>
<figure id="attachment_26029" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-26029" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-26029" src="https://openlife.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/apc-300x291.jpg" alt="Governor Hyacinth Alia Renews Battle With George Akume In Benue
" width="300" height="291" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-26029" class="wp-caption-text"><em><strong>All Progressives Congress, APC</strong></em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Akume has dominated the APC apparatus in Benue for over 12 years since leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.<br />
While Akume endorsed his former media aide Becky Orpin for speaker, Alia backed his own candidate —Aondona Dajoh — who prevailed by just two votes. This denied Akume a lever over the new governor’s agenda. Insiders say Alia also rejected Akume’s recommendations for cabinet picks.</p>
<p>The parliamentary defeat, combined with Alia’s independent selection of officials and policies, signalled the new governor would not be a pliant actor dominated by the godfather figure who sponsored his candidacy.<br />
However, Akume’s national stature, as secretary to the federal government in Abuja, gives him significant sway over the embattled governor’s uncertain future.</p>
<p>But the situation took a twist on Friday when the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Aondona Dajoh suspended four members of the state assembly for allegedly conspiring to remove him as the speaker, but rumours of another attempt to impeach him tomorrow (Monday) were rife before his eventual resignation on Sunday afternoon.</p>
<figure id="attachment_30100" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30100" style="width: 231px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-medium wp-image-30100" src="https://openlife.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Benue-Speaker-e1756054800649-231x300.jpg" alt="Governor Hyacinth Alia Renews Battle With George Akume In Benue" width="231" height="300" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-30100" class="wp-caption-text"><em><strong>Speaker Aondona Dajoh resigns</strong></em></figcaption></figure>
<p>Dajoh is a close ally of SGF George Akume who has been in a political battle with Governor Alia of Benue State.<br />
Insiders say the battle has just started afresh.</p>
<p>Aondona Dajoh Hyacinth who emerged as Benue Assembly Speaker on June 5, 2023, represents Gboko West in the 10th assembly.</p>

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