Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Monday expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would secure at least 620,000 votes in the state during the 2027 general election, doubling the 310,468 votes he received in the 2023 presidential poll.
The governor made the pledge while speaking with journalists after a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He was accompanied by former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.
Alia attributed the APC’s growing strength in the state to recent political developments, including Suswam’s decision to align with the ruling party.
“I am very confident that as I won the election, even the first time, we are going to double the numbers for him.
“APC will continue to remain just one hold, one threshold, and we are going to make it good for him and for the entire Benue State as well,” Alia told State House correspondents.
In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu won Benue State with 310,468 votes, narrowly defeating Peter Obi, who polled 308,372 votes—a margin of 2,096 votes.
The result marked a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, ending years of dominance by the Peoples Democratic Party under former Governor Samuel Ortom, who publicly backed Obi during the election.
Alia said the visit to the Presidential Villa was also an opportunity to brief Tinubu on the security situation in Benue, the condition of internally displaced persons, the ongoing farming season and the political climate following the APC primaries.
“Previously we’ve had lots of security hits. It has calmed down. The President needed to know the position of the IDPs now in the state.
“It is the farming season for us. We are the food basket of the nation. If the IDPs are voluntarily going home do we still have some anxieties out there?
“I say yes. And so the President needed to know how we are tackling that.”
The governor added that he introduced Suswam to the President following the former governor’s decision to join the APC, describing him as a prominent political figure whose move warranted a direct engagement with Tinubu.
“I am here with the former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, who also joined ranks with the APC. Someone in the big three of his stature requires that he interfaces with Mr President directly as well,” Alia said.
Speaking on internal disagreements within the Benue APC after the party primaries, Alia expressed optimism that members would resolve their differences.
According to him, “I know there are some agitations from the very APC faithful after the primaries, but I believe it is going to calm down.
“Mr President is a democrat who understands this. He is a grassroots person.”
The governor also appreciated Tinubu for participating in Benue State’s 50th anniversary celebration, noting that the President had visited the state only days earlier.
He said the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, represented Tinubu at the event, where a fruit concentrate factory was commissioned. According to Alia, a beer factory and a fruit juice factory are yet to be commissioned.
He further disclosed that the First Lady commissioned 10 urban renewal road projects during the anniversary activities.
The governor said the purpose of Monday’s visit was both to appreciate the President for honouring the state’s golden jubilee celebration and to provide him with an update on developments across Benue.
“We came to thank him for showing up at Benue at 50, and then also to have him updated on the situation report of the entire state.”
