With Nigeria’s 2027 general elections just months away, a major political battle is brewing in Benue State, following heavy allegations of financial misconduct against Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is demanding a full public accounting over a reported ₦200 billion financial scandal, alleging that senior government officials are currently undergoing interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
However, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has swiftly fired back, describing the claims as a manufactured political smear campaign designed to distract the Governor from implementing his transformation agenda.
The Benue State chapter of PDP had issued a blistering statement accusing Governor Hyacinth Alia of presiding over an unprecedented financial scandal.
In a press statement signed by the opposition party’s Benue State Publicity Secretary, Bright Yima Antyo, the PDP claimed that four senior officials of the Alia administration have been detained and questioned by the EFCC over contract inflation, diversion, and misappropriation of public funds totaling ₦200 billion.
The opposition contends that Governor Alia cannot maintain a convenient silence while exercising centralized control over State accounts.
The PDP insists that constitutional immunity under Section 308 does not shield a sitting Governor from anti-corruption investigations.
The PDP is demanding full cooperation with anti-corruption agencies and an immediate public breakdown of all State financial transactions.
But the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State is not taking the accusations lying down.
In a sharp counter-offensive, APC State spokesman, Benedict Yawe dismissed the allegations as completely false, baseless, and unsupported by verifiable facts.
The APC had therefore challenged the opposition to provide documentary evidence, such as contract files, transaction references, or official EFCC statements to substantiate the ₦200 billion figure.
The Party argued that the Alia administration inherited over ₦187 billion in debt and pension arrears from the previous PDP government, yet has managed to execute massive infrastructure projects, hire over 9,700 Basic Education teachers, and guarantee regular salary payments.
As both parties exchange words, residents of Benue State are watching closely, hoping that transparency and the rule of law will prevail over political theatrics.
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(Editor: Ken Eseni)
