Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is back in the headlines and not for routine governance.
His latest political move is raising eyebrows across party lines. The governor has brought Labaran Maku, a prominent opposition figure, into his media circle, fueling talk of an impending defection.
This move is getting serious attention. Not just because Maku once served as Minister of Information under President Goodluck Jonathan or that he’s known for his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but because of the timing.
It’s a period when whispers of Alia’s exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are getting louder.
Maku was recruited under the platform of Timbuktoo to lead a special media team for Governor Alia. This was confirmed during a recent outing by the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board.
Inside APC ranks, the fallout has been swift. Many loyalists are furious. For them, this isn’t just about hiring someone with media experience it’s about political loyalty, timing, and direction. And the choice of Maku is sending a clear message.
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The Benue APC Likeminds issued a sharp warning: “Governor Alia is dancing dangerously close to the edge. Labaran Maku is not just an outsider, he’s a symbol of everything the APC is fighting against ahead of 2027.”
They didn’t stop there. “Maku has long been associated with the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), and his recent activities suggest a role in building a broader coalition to challenge the APC in the next election cycle.
“It’s about loyalty, optics and political intent. Hiring Labaran Maku at a time like this, with all the defection talk in the air, can only mean one thing: the governor is preparing to jump ship.”
This isn’t coming out of nowhere. Alia’s relationship with the APC has been shaky for a while. Party leaders in Benue and Abuja have openly questioned his commitment, citing his repeated absence from key party meetings.
With 2027 on the horizon, the governor’s next steps could reshape the political landscape in Benue and possibly beyond.