POLITICS
Alia’s Acceptance Speech as Benue Governor-elect
A VICTORY SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, REV. FR. DR. HYACINTH IORMEM ALIA, GOVERNOR-ELECT OF BENUE STATE, MARKING HIS VICTORY IN THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN BENUE STATE, HELD ON
MARCH 18, 2023
Protocol,
My beloved fellow citizens of Benue State,I stand before you today as the duly elected Governor of Benue state.
My victory was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a few hours ago.
The long and anxious wait for the results to be officially declared is over; we can now roll out the drums in celebration of this great victory.
I recognize what an enormous privilege and honor it is to be trusted with the government of the State especially at this time and am deeply conscious of it. I would like to say that God does not call the qualified! He qualifies the called.
I may not be the most qualified Benue son to lead the State at this
time but the Good Lord who has called me will qualify me.
Never in my life have I seen a people express their desires and wishes so passionately as I saw from you in this election.
The volunteers who came together under various support groups; those who travelled to all nooks and crannies of our State to knock on doors; the poll watchers who stayed vigilant to ensure that our votes were counted; every one of you! You all are the true heroes of this victory, and your names will be written in gold in the annals of our State.
It has been a remarkable and historic victory for our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). I am in no doubt at all about the enormity of the challenges that lie ahead and what this victory means in the face of these challenges.
My dear people, this victory belongs to you. It belongs to all of you who thirst for the dividends of democracy. And by this victory, the liberation we have all yearned for is at hand.
Change is coming to Benue State!! I take this opportunity to appreciate the Leader of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Senator Dr George Akume, who has remained strong like the Rock of Gibraltar and guided us along the path to this happy moment.
I appreciate the State Working Committee of the Party under the leadership of the ebullient Comrade Austin Agada, as well as the other organs and critical stakeholders of the Party for their resilience and resourcefulness.(Let’s give a big round of applause to all APC members….APC!!)
I doff my hat for the most hardworking and ingenious campaign team ever assembled in the political history of Benue State led by the Director General, Rev Dr. Frederick Ikyaan. They represent the building blocks to this victory.
I am grateful for the friendship and support of my running mate, Barrister Sam Ode. He has worked so hard on the campaign trail, and I look forward to fruitful collaboration with him in Government House.
I would like to congratulate my opponents from the other parties for making it an interesting contest. BUT the anxious period of politicking is over. Now is the time to unite and face the challenges of development.
Our State, Benue, needs a total reset! Governance in our State has hit a historic low. This election is a mandate to reform and recalibrate governance in Benue.
We need all hands, all good and ready hands, to be on deck. We need men and women whom
the spoils of office cannot buy. We need all who believe that a new
Benue is possible.
I believe there is an even greater obligation on me, in fact on us all, to tell the Benue people very clearly the difficult choices and challenges that we face and how we will work our way through them.
We will clear the backlog of arrears of salaries, and pensions and
gratuities, resettle our IDPs in their ancestral homes, address persistent insecurity challenges and set the stage for a prosperous Benue.
We need to set the foundations for a strong economy. And on top of
that, we need to start building an economy of the future based on skills and talents and education and the application of technology; knowing that the forces of global competition and technology mean that we can only compete based on skills and talents. Let us unlock our wealth!
My fellow citizens, a new Benue is possible, and I enjoin all of you to join hands with me to make it a reality.
Let us begin by embracing a new way of thinking and action – by cultivating a new ethos that expresses the best of us, that brings forth our better angels and not our worst demons.
The smallness of unending political recriminations and willful economic sabotage must give way to accommodation and the pursuit of loftierideals.
There is a lot we can achieve through consensus and synergy. Our points of difference cannot be greater than the things that unite us.
Let us resolve, walk and work together as one people united by a common destiny.We the people of Benue, through this victory, have taken a new step in a new direction.
We have voted to realize the vision of their founding fathers
– the vision of a peaceful and buoyant society where both indigene and settler, the rich and the not-so-rich will engage in the pursuit of happiness unhindered.
We have voted to defeat the politics of backwardness, hate and division, in preference for a social contract that enhances our common
brotherhood and adds value to lives.
Let the word go out to the wretched of the earth in our hinterlands – the poor farmer in Sankera, the palm wine tapper in Otukpa, the petty trader at Abinsi, the rice farmer in Gwer-West, and the artisan in Gboko, that through this election, a new dawn has broken in Benue – a new dawn of equal opportunity and shared prosperity.
And let the word go out to all the ends of the earth, that a people, through this election, have risen from the ashes of deprivation and depression and are marching in lockstep towards their rightful place in the hall of greatness.
As we get set to begin the arduous task of rebuilding our state, May the God of all Goodness, who has answered our cry for freedom today, fortify us with the strength and wisdom to succeed.
God bless you all. And may God Bless the new Benue of our dreams!
Thank you all!
Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, PhD,
Governor-Elect,
Benue State.
POLITICS
2027: INEC Engages Adamawa PWDs on Electoral Process
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa has sensitised Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) on the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Muhammad Nura, said this at the inauguration of the exercise on Monday in Yola.
He said that persons with disabilities constituted an important part of the electorate, adding that the commission was geared toward ensuring an inclusive electoral process.
Nura said that the commission recognised the need to identify and address barriers to ensure that no eligible voter was left out.
“Our commitment to electoral inclusion requires continuous sensitisation, effective collaboration with disability organisations, and improved voter education. And the identification of reasonable measures to facilitate participation by voters with various forms of disability,” he said.
According to Nura, the commission is paying attention to the accessibility of polling units; availability of voter education materials in appropriate formats, and effective communication with voters with different forms of disabilities.
He said that the commission would deploy appropriate assistive devices in accordance with its procedures, to enhance support for different disability clusters.
Aliyu Shaba, Head of Department, Voter Education, said that the exercise was designed to strengthen implementation of inclusive guidelines, voter education and mobilisation.
He said, “the workshop is about moving from awareness to practical action.
“As we prepare for the 2027 general election, let us strengthen our collective responsibility to ensure interventions reach those for whom they are intended,” he said.
Shaba highlighted that the exercise would strengthen capacity, improve implementation and ensure that no eligible PWDs exercise their franchise.
Also, Sani Sabo, Chairman, Joined Association of Person with Disabilities, lauded the gesture.
Sabo, represented by his deputy, Dalhatu Muhammad, assured their members to mobilise participation in the election. (NAN)
POLITICS
2027: Buba Yakub Mobilises Adamawa Support for Tinubu, APC
From Yagana Ali, Yola
The Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, has called on the people of Adamawa State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, while reaffirming his commitment to the welfare of his former constituents.
Buba Yakub made the call during an empowerment programme organised by the Rt.
Hon. Yusuf Capt. Buba Support Group in Faci, within the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, where more than 1,000 people benefited from cash grants and other forms of assistance.The programme brought together APC leaders, political stakeholders, community representatives and beneficiaries, providing a platform for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections and renewed engagement with communities in the constituency.
The NTAC Director-General urged residents to support Tinubu’s re-election, citing what he described as the administration’s achievements and reforms in revenue generation, tertiary education, national unity, security, local government autonomy, foreign exchange stability and broader national development.
He also called for support for APC candidates contesting presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, state assembly and other elective positions in Adamawa State.
According to him, the empowerment initiative was conceived by his support group and endorsed by him as part of his commitment to giving back to the people who elected him to the House of Representatives on two occasions.
He explained that his continued engagement with the constituency was motivated by a desire to sustain the relationship he built with the people during his years in elective office.
Buba Yakub further pledged to deploy his political experience, networks and available resources towards mobilising support for the APC across Adamawa State, stressing the importance of grassroots participation in the forthcoming elections.
He maintained that political mobilisation should be accompanied by sustained engagement with the people and efforts to address their needs.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Vice-Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Professor Ibrahim Umar, commended Buba Yakub for maintaining close ties with his former constituency despite his current national assignment.
Professor Umar observed that the NTAC Director-General was not seeking elective office at the moment but had continued to provide assistance to his former constituents through financial support and other empowerment initiatives.
He described the programme as an indication of continued engagement with the people beyond the period of elective service.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the beneficiaries and supporters who attended the event reflected the enduring relationship between Buba Yakub and the constituency he previously represented.
He said the initiative demonstrated the importance of maintaining contact with constituents and responding to their needs even after leaving the National Assembly.
Professor Umar also expressed support for Buba Yakub’s appeal for the re-election of President Tinubu and the election of other APC candidates in 2027.
He urged party supporters to remain committed to the political direction being advocated by their leaders.
Also speaking, the representative of the Adamawa State Governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley, called on APC leaders and supporters to strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wesley urged party stakeholders to emulate Buba Yakub’s approach to engaging supporters and translating political influence into practical activities at the community level.
He challenged party leaders to work towards securing support for the APC in their respective polling units, wards and local government areas.
According to him, effective grassroots organisation and sustained engagement with voters would be important to the party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.
The event attracted several prominent APC figures in Adamawa State, including the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Tijjani Galadima; its candidate for Adamawa Central Senatorial District, Comrade Salihu Mustapha, PhD; the APC National Vice-Chairman for the North-East, Barrister Idriss Shuaibu; and the Adamawa State APC Chairman, Alhaji Hamza Bello Madagali.
Also in attendance were members of the National and State Assemblies representing constituencies across Adamawa Central, including Rt. Hon. James Barka of Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency, Hon. Wakili Aliyu Boya of Fufore/Song Federal Constituency, Rufa’i Umar of Gombi State Constituency and Hon. John Alaba of Uba Gaya State Constituency.
Their participation highlighted the political significance of the gathering as APC stakeholders intensified preparations for the 2027 elections.
The presence of party leaders and elected representatives also provided an opportunity to reinforce calls for cooperation among stakeholders and stronger engagement with supporters across the state.
A major highlight of the programme was the distribution of cash grants ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦100,000 to 565 APC supporters drawn from the 22 wards of the Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency.
According to the organisers, more than 500 additional party supporters received various forms of assistance, bringing the total number of participants and beneficiaries covered by the initiative to over 1,000.
The intervention was designed to provide financial assistance to beneficiaries while reinforcing Buba Yakub’s continued engagement with the constituency.
For recipients, the cash grants and other forms of support represented immediate assistance that could help address some of their financial needs.
The organisers said the programme formed part of the support group’s broader efforts to reach constituents through empowerment activities and community-based interventions.
Beyond the empowerment programme, special interventions were also extended a day earlier to individuals and communities affected by insurgent attacks, as well as people contributing to efforts to address insecurity in the area.
The assistance targeted former constituents affected by recent attacks in communities around Garaha-Dutse, Lhar, Bunya and other locations.
The intervention underscored the continuing humanitarian challenges facing communities affected by insecurity and the need for support for people whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted.
For affected households, assistance of this nature can help meet immediate needs while communities continue to grapple with the consequences of attacks and displacement.
The organisers said the initiative was part of the group’s engagement with vulnerable residents and communities facing difficult circumstances.
The programme combined financial assistance, community engagement and political mobilisation as APC stakeholders looked towards the 2027 general elections.
For Buba Yakub, the initiative provided an opportunity to reconnect with a constituency he represented in the House of Representatives while calling for support for Tinubu and other APC candidates.
His appeal centred on the argument that support for the party should extend across the various elective positions, from the presidency to legislative seats at the federal and state levels.
However, the administration’s cited achievements and the expected electoral benefits remain positions advanced by the organisers and speakers at the event.
As political activities gradually build towards 2027, the gathering in Faci reflected the growing importance of grassroots engagement, empowerment initiatives and political alliances in Adamawa State.
The programme concluded with a renewed call for APC supporters to remain active in their communities, strengthen party structures and participate in preparations for the forthcoming general elections.
POLITICS
2027: Tompolo Mobilises Support for Tinubu in Ogun, says Economy Stabilising
The Grand Patron of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement, Government Ekpemupolo, has called on the people of Ogun State to massively vote for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 to continue to enjoy the gains of his administration.
He made the call during the inauguration of the state chapter of the movement and donation of 26 campaign vehicles and other materials in Abeokuta, on Friday.
Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, who was represented by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services, Kestin Pondi, praised Tinubu for his bold policies which he noted, were making Nigeria attractive to investors again and stabilising the economy.
He pointed out that the bold reforms by the Tinubu administration have done away with perennial fuel queues in the country, and ensured more infrastructure development, regular payment of salaries and pensions among others.
“We have a president who said Nigeria must be better. Today, there is no more capital flight, investors are returning and the naira is stabilising.
“Go everywhere and tell them your son, your brother, your father must return to Aso Rock. Make them understand that he’s the best. The reforms have no doubt come with challenges but just like the challenges a woman in labour faces but rejoices at the birth of her child, we shall all be happy,” Tompolo said.
Continuing, he noted that: “Every developed country has gone through this path Tinubu is taking us through and came out stronger. Nigeria will come out stronger with the policies and reforms of Tinubu. Let us keep faith with him. He means well for Nigeria.”
Tompolo reiterated that the movement was in the state to work together with other campaign groups to ensure that the APC wins from top to bottom.
Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, commended the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement for the support, which she noted, will complement all other campaign efforts.
She said Ogun was ready to support the president as a mark of appreciation for the many good things the state was enjoying as a result of his policies and reforms.
Speaking directly to the electorate, the governor said: “No matter how confident we are, we have to come out and vote. There is no room for complacency, no need to say it is a done deal because the deal can only be done at the polling booth. We have received a lot from the president because we supported him before. If we do it again, it means we appreciate him and we want more.”
APC governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Adeola, said it was imperative to support Tinubu as “he has changed the narrative of our country.”
“For the first time since independence, we are seeing changes in all sectors of the economy. Things are changing for good, investors are coming back, international organisations have acknowledged the positive changes, the macro economy is doing well and the micro economy is picking up and will do better in no distant time” he stated.
While pointing out that Tinubu is their own son and and they had resolved to give him no less than 2 million votes come January 2027, Adeola appreciated the Movement for the donation which he pointed out would aid the campaign.
National Coordinator of the Movement, Sunday Asuku, in a remark, advised the people to be at alert and not allow themselves to be deceived by the opposition who have nothing better to offer and do not mean well for the country.
“The right choice before Nigeria is Tinubu. With President Tinubu, we’re on track. Don’t allow anyone to use you to derail the journey. Come January 2027, vote for Asiwaju,” he said.
Media Unit


