Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has dismissed a petition filed against him by Joseph Waya, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election, describing it as a product of gossip, frustration, and personal spite.
The petition, dated September 1, 2025, was circulated to the media in Abuja and reportedly copied to Catholic leaders, including the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and bishops of the four Catholic dioceses in Benue. In it, Waya accused Governor Alia of corruption, intimidation of political rivals, and alleged actions that, according to him, have damaged the reputation of both Benue State and the Catholic Church.
Waya further alleged that after more than two years in office, Alia has failed to deliver on his promises, leaving the state in “despair” and dragging the image of his predecessors, as well as the Catholic clergy, into controversy.
In his response, Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, dismissed the petition as baseless and mischievous.
> “For starters, this petition, measured from all perimeters, is built on gossip and personal bitterness, and needs not be given any response,” Kula stated.
“However, given its mischievous intent to mislead the public on who Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is, and to drag the Catholic Church into partisan politics, it is necessary to set the records straight.”
Kula urged the people of Benue to ignore the allegations and remain focused on supporting the governor’s development agenda. He stressed that Waya’s claims lacked credibility and were an attempt to score political points by discrediting the governor and involving the Church in partisan disputes.
Meanwhile, political observers note that this development adds to the growing tensions between opposition voices and the Alia administration, particularly as the state navigates ongoing debates over governance, accountability, and the governor’s performance.
Governor Alia, who is also a Catholic priest, has consistently faced criticism from opposition groups, but his supporters insist that his administration is on course to deliver reforms in infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
