…As APGA guber candidate, drags Gov to court over alleged state funds mismanagement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State on Monday challenged Governor Hyacinth Alia to publish the state’s financial records following claims by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike that the state receives up to N30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The PDP’s position came just as a High Court of the FCT has ordered Governor Alia to disclose Benue’s financial records since June 2023.
The PDP’s spokesman, Bright Yima Antyo, in a statement in Makurdi, urged Governor Alia to publicly clarify the figures and publish the state’s revenue and expenditure records since he assumed office on May 29, 2023.
The PDP also called on the governor to provide verifiable details of projects funded by the state government, the amounts spent and their completion status.
It again demanded explanations of security expenditure and the results achieved, while urging all 23 local government councils in the state to publicly account for their respective allocations.
The statement described FCT Minister Wike’s disclosure as a weighty claim that required a clear response from the Benue State Government.
“This is a weighty statement from a serving federal minister. Why has the Benue State Government failed to offer a clear public response to Chief Wike’s disclosure? Does the governor dispute the figures?
“If he does, why has he not come forward with the actual figures? If he agrees with the minister, why has he not considered it necessary to explain to the people what his administration has done with the enormous resources available to Benue State, following the removal of fuel subsidy?” the PDP asked.
The party alleged that since taking office on May 29, 2023, Alia had not delivered a comprehensive public accountability briefing covering the revenues received, expenditure incurred, projects executed and results achieved by his administration.
It also condemned separate statements issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, and the APC State Publicity Secretary, Benedict Yawe, describing them as desperate attempts to divert public attention from legitimate questions about the revenue and expenditure of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
“The PDP is appalled that rather than provide verifiable answers to questions surrounding the reported monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) receipts of approximately N30 billion, the two officials have chosen to retreat into political accusations, historical comparisons and propaganda against the immediate past administration”.
The PDP insisted that “public accountability is not a partisan favour that a government may grant or withhold at will. It is an obligation owed to the people whose resources sustain the government. Every administration, past or present, must be prepared to answer legitimate questions about its management of public funds.
“We therefore challenge Governor Alia’s administration to publish a comprehensive and verifiable account of the state’s finances, including: Monthly FAAC receipts: The actual amounts received by the state government, clearly distinguished from allocations accruing to the 23 local government councils.
”Statutory deductions and other obligations: All deductions, commitments and liabilities affecting the funds available for expenditure.
”Recurrent expenditure: Detailed records of spending on salaries, pensions, overheads, appointments and other administrative costs.
”Capital expenditure: The amounts budgeted, released and actually spent on each major project, including the names of contractors, contract sums and implementation status.
”Debt servicing and repayments: A clear breakdown of loans obtained, outstanding obligations, repayments made and the balances remaining.
”Project delivery and performance: Verifiable evidence of completed projects, ongoing works and the actual value delivered to the people of Benue State”.
Meanwhile, the Court order came amid mounting concerns over how Governor Alia has managed public funds since he became governor.
Justice Hamza Mu’azu of the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, issued the order following a lawsuit filed by Joseph Waya, a former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The court directed the governor to make available records of the state’s federal allocations, internally generated revenue, loans, grants, government contracts and other sources of public funding.
The disclosure also covers foreign donations, personnel costs and pension payments.
Waya had approached the court after accusing the Alia administration of failing to provide comprehensive financial information he requested under the Freedom of Information Act on September 8, 2025.
The ruling comes amid controversy over claims by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, that Benue receives about N30 billion monthly from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
