Benue 2027: Voters won’t be forced to support unpopular candidates, Alia’s CPS warns

Henry Iyorkase, Makurdi

Benue State Government has warned political groups and emerging alliances ahead of the 2027 governorship election that the electorate will not be compelled to support any candidate against their wishes, insisting that integrity, competence, performance and a credible track record will remain decisive factors in determining who governs the state.

The government also dismissed what it described as clandestine political manoeuvrings by opposition politicians and their allies, saying the people of Benue State have become more politically conscious and are capable of making independent decisions at the polls.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Sir Tersoo Kula, stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Kula was reacting to alleged moves by some opposition politicians to form what he described as a strategic political alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, with supporters reportedly promoting the candidacy of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, who is expected to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to him, those behind the emerging political arrangement appeared to have underestimated the level of political awareness among the Benue electorate.

He said voters were now more informed and politically conscious than in previous election cycles, stressing that no political alliance could force citizens to vote for a candidate they did not personally support.

Kula said, “The electorate is now wiser. They know who they want, they know who they can trust, and they know where to put their confidence ahead of 2027.

“The awareness and consciousness of voters today are very advanced. You cannot force an average voter to cast his or her vote for someone who is not their choice. The voter will simply not do it.”

The governor’s spokesman maintained that there was sufficient evidence to distinguish genuine leadership from what he described as politically motivated arrangements designed primarily to secure power.

He argued that Governor Alia’s victory in the 2023 governorship election was largely driven by his reputation for integrity, popularity and the goodwill he enjoyed among the people of the state.

According to him, the governor’s administration has, since assuming office, opened a new chapter in governance by promoting accountability, good governance and what he described as transformational leadership.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia was elected in 2023 because of his integrity, popularity and the overwhelming goodwill he earned from the people. Since assuming office, he has opened a new chapter in governance that is redefining accountability, good governance and transformational leadership in the state,” he said.

Kula further argued that the people of Benue would reject political actors whose public records, according to him, raise questions about their integrity and commitment to public service.

He said Governor Alia had entered into what he described as a covenant with the people of Benue State and had remained committed to fulfilling his obligations to them.

“Governor Hyacinth Alia entered into a covenant with the people of Benue State, and he has remained faithful to that covenant. No amount of propaganda or political grandstanding can diminish the strides his administration has recorded,” he stated

The Chief Press Secretary also questioned the motivations behind efforts to unseat the governor, claiming that the opposition had not based its criticisms on the performance of the administration.

He alleged that some of the complaints against the governor were largely centred on political and personal interests rather than issues of governance.

Kula referenced comments attributed to Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa of the PDP and Mathias Byuan of the Labour Party, who he said had accused Governor Alia of “eating alone” and “running away with their pot of food,” respectively.

He argued that such remarks, in his view, revealed the motivations of the governor’s critics more than they provided a meaningful assessment of his administration’s performance.

According to him, the 2027 election would provide an opportunity for the people of Benue to assess all aspirants based on their records, character and commitment to public service.

“Governor Alia won the 2023 election on the strength of his integrity. Therefore, anyone seeking to challenge him should also be prepared to submit to the same test of integrity,” he said.

Kula particularly challenged those supporting the candidacy of Aondoakaa to subject their preferred candidate to the same level of scrutiny that they apply to the incumbent governor.

He referred to controversies that allegedly surrounded Aondoakaa’s tenure as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, claiming that his tenure attracted allegations of abuse of office and interference with the administration of justice.

The statement also cited a Supreme Court judgment in which, according to Kula, the court quoted with approval observations made by a trial judge concerning the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the conduct of its occupants.

The governor’s spokesman used the reference to argue that integrity must remain central to the assessment of individuals seeking public office.

He said public trust was built on integrity and that citizens were more likely to have confidence in government institutions when those in authority demonstrated transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law.

“Integrity remains the foundation upon which public trust is built. It fosters confidence between citizens and the institutions that govern them,” he stated.
He warned that abuse of public office could erode public confidence, weaken institutions and create an atmosphere where impunity thrives.

According to him, the people of Benue deserve leaders whose records demonstrate a commitment to public service and the common good rather than personal enrichment or political influence.

Kula, however, acknowledged that every qualified citizen has a constitutional right to aspire to the governorship of Benue State, but argued that competence without integrity could pose a danger to effective governance.

“Ability devoid of probity risks turning public office into a vehicle for private enrichment at the expense of the common good,” he said.

He maintained that the Benue electorate would not base its decision in 2027 solely on campaign promises, but would also consider the past conduct of candidates, their respect for the rule of law, their records in public service and their willingness to be held accountable.

He added that these qualities would be as important to voters as the policy proposals and manifestos presented during the election campaign.

Kula further said that the people of Benue would demand transparency and credible information from political actors and candidates as the 2027 elections approach.

“Ultimately, the people of Benue will demand unblemished records, independently verifiable credentials, transparency from those promoting such candidates, and a clear explanation of the interests driving such political alliances,” he said.

He stressed that the electorate’s scrutiny of candidates would be aimed not only at determining who occupies the Government House in 2027 but also at protecting the long-term interests and development of the state.

As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the statement signals an increasingly competitive contest for the governorship of Benue State, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties expected to intensify their campaigns and political alignments in the months ahead.

The Benue State Government, however, remains confident that Governor Alia’s record, integrity and relationship with the electorate will give him an advantage as the state approaches another election season.