Group rejects alleged coalition’s plot to oust Alia

File: Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State

The Benue Alliance for Good Governance and Accountability group has expressed concerns over the existence of the rainbow coalition in the state.

 The group, in a statement issued by its President, John Terfa, on Wednesday, said that the political arrangement could influence the outcome of the state governorship election in 2027.

 As such, the group vowed to resist the incursion of the rainbow coalition into the state, saying that some prominent politicians were allegedly working with external forces to oust the state governor, Hyacinth Alia.

 The Austin Agada-led faction of the All Progressives Congress had on Tuesday disclosed the existence of the coalition in the state and announced its Director General as Chief Akaage Audu.

 The state publicity secretary of the Agada-led APC faction, Daniel-Morgan Ihomun, in the statement stressed that the coalition group was committed to mobilising support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and other candidates from the group.

 He said, “The Benue  Strategic Alliance for Tinubu 2027 is committed to mobilising support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, as well as for all National and State Assembly candidates who emerge from the Austin Agada-led APC State Executive Committee.

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 But Terfa, in the statement made available to Arewa Punch and which read in part, alleged that there were m secret political negotiations involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, with other prominent politicians from the state, whom he accused of being bent on scuttling the re-election of Governor Hyaccinth Alia.

 The group questioned why political actors from outside Benue should have a decisive influence over who governs the state, and argued that the choice of who becomes the governor of the state must remain the exclusive right of the electorate.

 The statement read in part, “Benue is not a political commodity to be traded behind closed doors in Abuja. The people of the state must have the final say on who governs them and the direction their state takes.

 “We believe that Alia’s administration is performing well in governance and development, but our position is that political alliances should not be used to undermine the democratic choices of the electorate.

 “We are making it clear that Benue people are politically conscious. They will not surrender their future to a coalition of political interests formed without their consent.

 “Whatever colour it is given- Rainbow, PDP or otherwise- the people will reject any arrangement that threatens their collective interests and development,” the statement maintained.