Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has shed light on his decision to question a reported presidential directive that sought to award automatic re-election tickets to serving All Progressives Congress (APC) officials within the state.
He said it was obvious that the policy would conflict with Benue’s established practice of rotating political offices.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, stated this while responding to questions from journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday.
He stated among other things that, if President Bola Tinubu truly issued the directive, then, it meant he might have received incomplete or inaccurate information about Benue’s political practices and voter expectations, adding that the claim was not independently verified.
He described the alleged directive as “self-defeating,” saying disregarding zoning arrangements could generate opposition to the APC.
According to Kula, the Tiv principle of rotational leadership, known as “ya na angbian,” meaning “eat and pass to your brother,” has influenced political representation in Benue State.
He attributed its introduction into national political discourse partly to the late Joseph Sarwuan Tarka.
The governor’s spokesman said Benue voters have often opposed extended control of elective offices by individual politicians.
He cited former Senate President David Mark and former Benue State Governor, Senator George Akume as examples of politicians who secured repeated mandates, while describing such cases as relatively uncommon in the state’s political history.
“Our people detest sitting tight in leadership. They prefer to rotate,” he said, adding that attempts to disregard this preference could lead to protests or protest votes.
He said political parties in Benue have generally considered zoning and rotational arrangements when selecting candidates, linking the practice to voter expectations.
The governor’s spokesman said automatic tickets for all incumbent APC office holders, regardless of previous tenure or existing zoning agreements, could create internal divisions and weaken the party in the state.
What You Should Know
Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration has pushed back against an alleged directive from President Bola Tinubu that would grant automatic tickets to incumbent politicians seeking re-election in Benue State. According to the governor’s office, this policy clashes directly with the state’s traditional political zoning system known as “ya na angbian,” which means “eat and pass to your brother.”
- Political Stability: Respecting local zoning arrangements helps prevent voter frustration and reduces political tension across the state.
- Potential Risks: Imposing automatic tickets from the top down could trigger serious internal party divisions, voter apathy, and protest votes against the ruling APC.
