A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Dominic Alancha, has called on the party to replace Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia as its governorship candidate, saying that the Governor is not popular and is not performing.

Alancha made the call for the Governor’s removal when he appeared as a guest on the Friday edition of Channels TV programme ‘Politics Today’, saying the party will lose the state if it gives its ticket to the reverend father-turned-politician.

He said the perception that the Governor is popular because he is a reverend father does not hold water, as the Governor is not on the same page with even the four bishops in Benue State.

The APC chieftain urged the party leadership to exercise its powers through the internal appeal process and field a different candidate ahead of the election, alleging that the Governor has managed the party very badly.

Alancha said: “In Benue State today, four bishops in the state are not on the same page with Alia. It’s not about Alia being popular or not; the truth of the matter is that Alia has managed the party in a very bad way. The outcome of it is what would be reflected in 2027 if Alia is given that ticket.

“What we are saying in Benue State is that if APC fields Governor Alia, the APC is going to lose. The reasons are not far-fetched from what is the reality in Benue State today. Even in terms of governance, Alia has not done well.

“To Benue people, Alia is not doing anything given the huge amount of money he is getting through federal allocation amounting to 2 trillion naira.

Alancha argued that while the Governor would be unable to secure victory in the governorship contest, the party enjoys broad support for the presidential election in the state.

He distinguished between the APC’s prospects in the presidential race and its chances in the Benue governorship election, insisting that the two should not be viewed in the same light.

“The presidential election is a different matter because we have everything going well for us in Benue State. APC members are campaigning for Mr. President. PDP, SDP and the Labour Party are all working for the President in the state,” he stated.

Alancha also accused Alia of disregarding a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, conveyed through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to issue automatic tickets to all serving members of the National Assembly.

“Alia has not settled with Akume. I was in the meeting as a political appointee, and the agreement — which is a directive from Mr. President — Alia after the meeting threw it away, that all serving National Assembly members should be given automatic tickets including the Governor.

“The Governor came out and apologised and the SGF asked us to forgive, but the Governor later said what the President said was mere wishes and prayers. That is the reason why during the primaries, he was in the government house writing results. We have evidence,” he stated. (Nigerian Tribune)