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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday met with Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia and former governor, Gabriel Suswam, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in what is believed to be efforts to calm rising political tensions in the state.
The encounter comes as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue grapples with an intensifying leadership struggle between Governor Alia’s camp and supporters aligned with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Party operatives and local politicians are increasingly positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections, deepening fault lines within the state chapter.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Alia assured that APC will make huge impression in the 2027 elections.
The governor who said the discussions included politics, expressed confidence the APC in Benue will overcome post‑primary agitations.
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“I know that are some agitations from APC faithfuls after the primaries, but I believe that it’s going to calm down,” Alia told journalists after the talks. “Mr. President is a Democrat who understands this.”
Alia described Mr. Tinubu as a grassroots politician and who knows how about managing internal party tensions. “He is a grass root person and we’re working for APC altogether; I am very confident that as I won the election, even at the first time, we’re going to double the numbers for him, and APC will continue to remain just one threshold,” he said, pledging the state’s continued support for the party.
Alia, who was accompanied former governor Gabriel Suswam, whose name was reportedly substituted for Emmanuel Udende after the APC senatorial primaries — a development that contributed to strains within the state chapter.
Alia said the visit to Presidential Villa also allowed him to thank the president for attending Benue at 50 celebrations and for commissioning projects, and to update him on security and humanitarian matters.
“We just 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,” he said, adding that while insecurity has eased, concerns remain as internally displaced persons consider returning home during the farming season.
