High-stakes political firestorm has erupted in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria as the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and opposition heavyweights trade fierce recriminations.
At the centre of the storm are local government funds, deepening security lapses, and the explosive fallout from the controversial blockage against visiting Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.
While the state government boasts of unprecedented grassroots development, the opposition accuses it of financial opacity and heavy-handed politics.
The gloves are off in Benue State as a war of words exposes deepening fault lines ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
The PDP Governorship Candidate and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa ignited the fire, accusing the Alia administration of maintaining an iron grip on local government funds despite constitutional guarantees of autonomy.
The Governor’s office fired back, dismissing the claims as baseless. But the briefing quickly took a sharp political turn.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula accused the immediate past Governor of the State, Samuel Ortom of political double-dealing following the controversial high-profile visit of the NDC Presidential candidate, Peter Obi,
The government alleged that Ortom provided logistics for Obi while publicly pledging loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.
The opposition’s counter-attack was swift and uncompromising.
Speaking on behalf of former Governor Ortom and Michael Aondoakaa, Terver Akase accused the administration of orchestrating cheap distractions to mask its failures to secure the state and return displaced persons home.
Regarding the Peter Obi alliance, Akase dismissed allegations of political double-dealing, stating that providing transport to a visiting national figure was a routine act of hospitality and statesmanship that the state government itself should have extended.
With 2027 fast approaching, this latest confrontation confirms that the political arena in Benue State has become a battleground, where local government control, state security, and presidential politics intersect.
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Editor: Terverr Tyav
