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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has leveled serious accusations against Governor Hyacinth Alia, claiming he is using repeated attacks on his predecessor, Chief Samuel Ortom, to divert public attention from financial mismanagement and a controversial ₦100 billion loan approved for his administration. The allegations, detailed in a statement by Chief Ortom’s Media Adviser, Mr. Terver Akase, were posted on the Benue info-pedia platform today.
The PDP asserts that Governor Alia’s administration has resorted to “vituperations” and constant blame games against Ortom, a tactic it describes as a hallmark of Alia’s governance. Despite over 500% increases in federal allocations to states, the party notes that Alia has yet to clear salary arrears, pensions, and gratuities or deliver meaningful development, contrasting this with visible progress in other states. The statement recalls President Bola Tinubu’s June 2025 visit to Benue, where he confirmed that states now receive sufficient funds and should have no reason to borrow.
Further scrutiny focuses on the Alia administration’s financial decisions, including the awarding of contracts without due process or budgetary backing. The PDP highlighted a ₦68.3 billion contract for the rehabilitation of a 13-kilometer road from Wurukum Roundabout to the Air Force Base in Makurdi and a ₦73 billion road project allegedly leading to the governor’s village in Vandeikya LGA, both shrouded in secrecy. The party also questioned conflicting debt figures released by the administration, noting that the claimed ₦7.4 billion monthly debt servicing is inconsistent with the declared total debt profile.
Mr. Akase challenged Governor Alia to explain how the massive revenues accruing to the state since May 2023 have been spent and urged him to publish detailed and verifiable handover notes and audited accounts left by Ortom if he believes otherwise. He also called for accountability regarding outstanding funds expected from the Federal Government at the time Ortom left office, including ₦41 billion in bailout funds and a ₦20 billion CBN facility.
The PDP condemned Alia’s “baseless and habitual” verbal assaults on Ortom, suggesting they reflect an administration that fears transparency and avoids accountability. Akase reminded the public that Ortom left behind detailed records and urged Alia to abandon what he termed “diversionary tactics,” questioning why another ₦100 billion loan was taken barely a year into office despite huge increases in federal allocations.
In conclusion, Akase praised Ortom for moving on with dignity as a statesman and urged Governor Alia to stop dragging his name into every issue, instead focusing on the mandate given to him by the people of Benue State. The political tension continues to rise as the PDP demands greater transparency and accountability from the current administration.
