Hyacinth Alia wins Benue APC governorship primary in landslide victory

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday declared Hyacinth Alia, the incumbent Governor of Benue State, as the winner and candidate of the party’s governorship primary election held on 21 May 2026.

Announcing the results in Makurdi, Mohammed Isa, Chairman and Chief Returning Officer of the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee, said Governor Alia polled 367,786 votes to defeat his closest contender in the contest.

According to the results announced by the committee, Jeffrey Kuraun secured 2,923 votes, while Terwase Orbunde scored 3,247 votes.

The declaration effectively ended days of anxiety and speculation surrounding Governor Alia’s participation in the primary after rumours circulated on social media alleging that his name was missing from the list of screened aspirants.

However, the APC committee deployed to conduct the exercise in Benue later clarified that the governor had been duly cleared to participate in the election.

Following the announcement of the results, the member representing Katsina-Ala/Logo/Ukum Federal Constituency and representative of Benue North-East Senatorial District, Solomon Wombo, moved a motion for the affirmation of the result in line with the APC governorship primary election guidelines.

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The motion was seconded by Terhemen Tarzoor, former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and former Nigerian ambassador to Namibia. Tarzoor also stated that the outcome reflected the collective will of APC members across the state.

Also speaking, Wilfred Adagene, a close ally of the governor who represented Benue South Senatorial District at the event, affirmed the motion and described the declaration as a true reflection of the outcome witnessed during the primary election.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Alia expressed gratitude to God and the people of Benue State for giving him another opportunity to serve.

“I am grateful to God for His benevolence and for the opportunity to continue serving the state, and I will continue to do my best to achieve the Benue of our dream.”

He commended the other aspirants for participating in the exercise and thanked President Bola Tinubu and the APC national leadership for ensuring a transparent and credible process.

According to him, the outcome of the primary had finally laid to rest all anxieties and disputes surrounding the contest.

Governor Alia said he was encouraged by the support and appreciation shown by the people of the state, noting that his administration’s investments in roads, hospitals, and other infrastructure projects had not gone unnoticed.

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“When we were building hospitals and constructing roads, I did not know the people of Benue were watching keenly, and what happened today is appreciation.”

The governor assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of ordinary citizens, insisting that he remained committed to serving the masses. “I am here for you and I will continue to work for you,” he added.

Alia also highlighted efforts by his administration to create employment opportunities, saying many young people in the state were already benefiting from companies established under his government.

Declaring confidence ahead of the 2027 governorship election, the governor described Benue as an APC stronghold, adding that “a vote for me is a vote for the President. I want you to go all out in the forthcoming general elections.”