Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, on Tuesday made a controversial political declaration, asserting that politicians would find “God and solace” only within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The remark, delivered at a high profile public event, has since drawn widespread attention and sparked debate across political and religious circles.
Governor Alia made the statement while addressing attendees at the distribution of food items for the Christmas and New Year celebrations organised by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The event, which took place in Kaduna, brought together government officials, party leaders, women groups, and beneficiaries from different parts of the country.
Speaking in a tone that blended political messaging with religious symbolism, the Benue governor declared that the APC had become the platform where politicians could find divine direction, peace, and fulfilment.
The governor’s comments were greeted with applause from some attendees, while others expressed surprise at the strong religious undertone of his political remarks.
Alia, a Catholic priest before entering partisan politics, is known for frequently invoking faith based language in his public addresses.
In further remarks, the governor hinted at the imminent collapse of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, claiming that most of its remaining lawmakers were already aligned with the APC, albeit informally.
Alia revealed that during the recent presentation of the 2025 budget at the Benue State House of Assembly in Makurdi, the Speaker informed him that six of the remaining PDP lawmakers had already pledged loyalty to the ruling party in principle.
“Just yesterday, during the budget presentation at the Benue State House of Assembly in Makurdi, the Speaker told me that the remaining six PDP assembly members are already in the APC in spirit,” the governor said.
“We will soon celebrate them physically in the party where one can find God and solace, the APC,” he added.
The comments come amid a wave of defections from opposition parties to the APC across several states, as political actors reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In Benue State, the APC has steadily increased its numerical strength in the House of Assembly following defections that have weakened the PDP, which once dominated the state’s political landscape.
Governor Alia’s remarks appear to signal confidence in the ruling party’s growing influence in Benue and his administration’s ability to consolidate power at both the legislative and grassroots levels.
The event where the statement was made was part of a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, aimed at providing food support to vulnerable Nigerians during the festive season.
The programme has been held in several states, with governors and other political leaders participating in the distribution exercises.
While addressing beneficiaries and dignitaries at the Kaduna event, Alia praised the First Lady for what he described as her compassion and commitment to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
He said such interventions reflected the people centred philosophy of the APC led federal government.
Political observers, however, have described the governor’s assertion that God can be found in a particular political party as highly provocative, warning that it could deepen political polarisation and blur the line between religion and governance.
Some critics argue that invoking divine authority to promote a political party risks alienating citizens who hold different political views and undermines the pluralistic nature of democracy.
They also caution that such rhetoric may fuel intolerance in a country already grappling with religious and ethnic sensitivities.
Supporters of the governor, on the other hand, have defended his remarks as metaphorical, insisting that Alia was merely emphasising what he believes to be the values of peace, inclusion, and moral uprightness within the APC.
They note that as a cleric turned politician, Alia naturally frames political issues through a moral and spiritual lens.
The PDP in Benue State has yet to officially respond to the governor’s claims regarding the alleged impending defection of its remaining lawmakers. However, party loyalists have previously dismissed similar claims as political propaganda aimed at demoralising the opposition and projecting an image of inevitability around APC dominance.
Analysts note that the governor’s comments also reflect broader national dynamics, where the APC continues to attract defectors from opposition parties amid internal crises within the PDP and other political groupings.
Governor Alia’s leadership has itself been marked by a fusion of faith, populist messaging, and reform oriented rhetoric. Since assuming office, he has positioned himself as a moral reformer determined to restore discipline, transparency, and accountability in Benue State governance.
His background as a Catholic priest has been both a source of appeal and controversy, with supporters praising his perceived integrity and critics questioning the appropriateness of religious symbolism in partisan politics.
As Nigeria moves closer to another election cycle, statements such as Alia’s are likely to intensify debates about the role of religion in politics, the health of opposition parties, and the boundaries of political persuasion.
For now, the Benue governor appears unperturbed by the controversy, standing firmly by his declaration and projecting confidence that the APC will continue to expand its influence, both in Benue State and across the country.
Whether his remarks will translate into further defections from the PDP or provoke a backlash remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the intersection of faith and politics remains a powerful and contentious force in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
