A coalition of governorship aspirants from the Kunav bloc of Vandekiya Local Government Area in Benue State on Friday faulted the Governor Hyacinth Alia adminstration’s handling of security, economy and governance.
The six aspirants – Professor Dennis Ityavyar, Hon. Joseph Waya, Professor Paul Angya, Professor Terhemba Shija, Rt. Hon. Dominic Terkaa Ucha and ESV Godwin Ityoachimin, warned that the state seem drifting at 50 despite huge financial inflows and constitutional obligations.
In a joint press conference led by Professor Dennis Ityavyar, in Makurdi, the aspirants who are drawn from different political parties and all from Vandeikya LGA, said Benue’s 50th anniversary should serve as a moment of accountability rather than celebration, insisting that “silence in the face of decline is complicity.”
The aspirants accused the current administration of presiding over worsening insecurity, weak institutions and the absence of a coherent development strategy, despite the state receiving over N400 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in recent years.
They noted that Benue generated only N20.43 billion as internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2024 – about 0.56 per cent of total subnational revenue – an outcome they described as inconsistent with the state’s vast agricultural potential.
According to the group, the funds received have not translated into improved welfare, citing irregular salary payments, decaying infrastructure, underfunded ministries and what they described as a lack of transparency in public accounts.
The aspirants said the state currently operates without an economic blueprint, agro-industrial plan, private-sector engagement framework or security master plan, warning that “no society develops by drifting.”
They also condemned the renewed wave of violent attacks across the state, referencing the February 3, 2026 attack on Abande community market in Mbaikyor ward of Kwande LGA, where at least 17 people, including a Mobile Police officer, were killed.
They further described the attack as part of a recurring pattern of violence, saying the situation amounts to a constitutional failure even as they stressed that the security and welfare of citizens remain the primary purpose of government under the 1999 Constitution.
The aspirants further raised concerns over the growing population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue, noting that many displaced families still lack shelter, food, healthcare and a clear resettlement plan despite support from federal and international partners.
They also criticised what they described as divisive rhetoric from top government officials, warning that threats to journalists, civil society groups and opposition figures undermine democratic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
While acknowledging the contributions of past administrations to Benue’s development, the aspirants said the state now requires leadership anchored on institutional discipline, rule of law, revenue diversification and continuity of policies.
The group however pledged to offer what they called people-centred and constitutionally driven leadership ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that Benue “deserves security, transparency, peace and economic transformation.”
