Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has pledged to secure at least 620,000 votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, doubling the 310,468 votes the President received in the state during the 2023 poll.
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‎Alia made the pledge on Monday while speaking with journalists after a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He was accompanied by former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.
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‎The governor said the ruling APC was gaining more strength in the state, pointing to Suswam’s decision to join the party as a major boost ahead of the next general election.
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‎Expressing confidence in the party’s chances, Alia said the APC would remain united and work towards delivering a stronger electoral performance for the President and the people of Benue.
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‎In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu narrowly defeated Peter Obi in Benue State, polling 310,468 votes against Obi’s 308,372, a margin of just 2,096 votes. The result marked a significant political shift in the state, which had long been regarded as a stronghold of the PDP under former governor Samuel Ortom.
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‎Alia explained that his visit to the President also focused on security, the welfare of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the ongoing farming season, and recent political developments in the state following the APC primaries.
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‎According to him, the security situation has improved considerably compared to previous months, although some concerns remain as displaced residents gradually return to their communities. He said he briefed the President on efforts to restore normalcy and ensure a successful farming season in Benue, widely known as Nigeria’s food basket.
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‎The governor also informed Tinubu of Suswam’s formal defection to the APC, describing the former governor as a key political figure whose engagement with the President was important.
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‎While acknowledging dissatisfaction among some APC members after the party’s primaries, Alia expressed optimism that the disagreements would be resolved, noting that Tinubu understood internal party dynamics as a grassroots politician.
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‎He further thanked the President for identifying with Benue during its recent 50th anniversary celebration. Alia recalled that the President was represented by his Chief of Staff, who commissioned a fruit concentrate factory, while the First Lady inaugurated 10 urban renewal road projects. He added that other projects, including a beer factory and a fruit juice factory, are still awaiting commissioning.
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‎The governor said the visit also provided an opportunity to update the President on the overall situation in Benue and appreciate his support for the state.
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