Some party members told SaharaReporters on Saturday that "negotiations are underway for Governor Alia's integration into a new party."

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State is currently reeling from internal crisis amid an alleged ongoing plot by Benue State Governor, Rev Father Hyacinth Alia, to defect from the party, top party members have confirmed.

Some party members told SaharaReporters on Saturday that "negotiations are underway for Governor Alia's integration into a new party."

Speaking further, they noted that the development comes on the heels of Governor Alia's boycott of the APC's endorsement of President Bola Tinubu as its sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

According to an APC stakeholder, "Alia's actions have shocked the party hierarchy, even as his dissenting actions against the party have intensified in recent times."

The stakeholder added that Alia had aggressively pushed for his endorsement alongside that of President Tinubu, but he stormed out of negotiations when his demands were rejected.

"The governor's relationship with the APC has been strained, with frequent clashes with key party stakeholders in Benue, including Senator George Akume," he noted.

The Federal High Court in Makurdi recently also overturned Governor Alia's attempt to unilaterally remove Austin Agada as the APC State Chairman, ruling in favour of Agada's position.

"This posturing is consistent with Alia’s broader pattern of political hostility and unilateralism. Since assuming office, he has frequently clashed with key APC stakeholders in Benue. With Governor Alia's attempted to unilaterally remove Mr. Austin Agada, the APC State Chairman known for his loyalty to Akume and regain full control of the party, all hell was let loose.

"The Governor was criticised both within and outside the party for his unlawful and autocratic attempt to usurp and dismantle the legitmate party leadership in Benue State. In tandem with the wishes of the people, a Federal High Court in Makurdi, presided over by Justice Kume, overturned Alia’s unilateral action on November 28, 2024 and upheld Agada’s position as the Chairman of the APC in Benue State," another top party source stated.

Another party member noted, "Governor Alia in his determined ambition to hijack the party machinery in the state by all means, resorted to the formation of a factional party structure, operating with a parallel executive and systematically sidelining dissenters and all those opposed to his aggressive political maneuvers.

"We are now confident that Alia’s rebellious behaviour in the APC and his overtures to a new party are a well crafted exit strategy from the APC. Verified reports indicate that negotiations for his integration into a new party and endorsement as the Governorship candidate of the party are being handled by Gabriel Suswam, a former Governor of Benue State and top stakeholders have gone far. What's remaining now is the official date for his defection proper."

"From the pulpit and in a desperate attempt to be seen as a reformist, Governor Alia is increasingly been exposed as a relentless power-seeker — willing to dismantle party structures, flout internal rules, and form opportunistic partnerships to advance his personal ambitions," the source added.

While this approach may win support among a loyal inner circle, it is alienating much of the APC base in Benue and casting him as a destabilising figure in the party’s national architecture."

As the battle for the soul of the party intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections election, Governor Alia’s political machinations, alliances and loyalty are questioned and will most likely be on a collision course with the APC.