DEFECTION: ATIKU’S DELEGATION MEETS GOV ALIA

Former Vice President of Nigeria and 2023 presidential candidate of  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday sent a delegation to meet with Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia to conclude plans for his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP. 

The delegation held discussions with Governor Alia at the Government House in Makurdi, in what appeared to be a crucial and possibly pivotal meeting that might lead to Governor Alia’s move to PDP. The meeting extended late into the night.

The visit of Atiku's delegation came barely 24 hours after the Benue State Governor was reported to have held a zoom meeting with some key stakeholders in PDP among who were former Senate President David Mark, former National Chairman of PDP Senator Iyorchia Ayu, former Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam and another former National Chairman of PDP (though now in APC) Senator Barnabas Gemade. 

The meeting reliably confirmed that the governor's defection from APC to PDP is now only a matter of time. Sources indicated that governor Alia expressed his misgivings about APC during the meeting, stating that he could no longer remain in the same party with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. 

However, it was decided during the meeting that the governor should await a favorable verdict from the Supreme Court before publicly announcing his defection. 

The meeting between Atiku's delegation and Governor Alia is likely to have far-reaching implications, not only for the political dynamics within Benue State but also for the broader power play at the national level. 

As one of the key figures in the APC, Governor Alia's potential defection to the PDP could significantly impact the balance of power in the state and even embarrass the Tinubu-led government.

Alia and the state chapter of APC have engaged in heated media exchanges in the last few days. While the APC leadership accuses Alia of running a one-man show without consulting anyone, the governor responds by telling the party of mounting undue pressure on him and undermining his leadership. 
He has also told APC on a number of occasions that without him, they would have lost the 2023 elections in Benue State. 

The embattled governor Alia also yesterday, shunned the resolution of the Senate and a prevailing court order to inaugurate caretaker chairmen of local governments. He performed the ceremony at about 1am.