- Fordham University, New York, in 1999.
- Duquesne University, Pennsylvania.
Master's degree in Biomedical Ethics in 2004
Doctorate in the same field in 2005 from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania.
Hyacinth Iormem Alia, born on May 15, 1966, in Mbangur, Mbadede, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, is a Nigerian Catholic priest and politician currently serving as the Governor of Benue State. He assumed office on May 29, 2023, after winning the gubernatorial election held on March 18, 2023, as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Early Life and Education
Alia began his education at St. Francis Primary School in Agidi, Mbatiav, Gboko Local Government Area. He proceeded to St. James Minor Seminary in Makurdi in 1983 and later attended St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos, where he earned a Diploma in Religious Studies in 1987 and a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology in 1990.
Pursuing further studies in the United States, Alia obtained a Master’s degree in Religious Education (Psychology and Counseling) from Fordham University, New York, in 1999. He also earned a Master’s degree in Biomedical Ethics in 2004 and a Doctorate in the same field in 2005 from Duquesne University, Pennsylvania.
Religious Career
Ordained as a Catholic priest on July 7, 1990, by Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese, Alia served in various pastoral roles both in Nigeria and the United States. His assignments included positions such as Parochial Vicar at St. John’s Parish in Gboko, Assistant Cathedral Administrator at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in Makurdi, and Director of Pastoral Services at Catholic Health Services in Florida.
Political Career
In May 2022, Alia declared his intention to run for the governorship of Benue State under the APC. This decision led to his suspension from priestly duties by the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, as the Church prohibits clergy from engaging in partisan politics.
Despite this, Alia won the APC primary and subsequently the general election, defeating his closest rival, Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, by a significant margin. He became the second Catholic priest to be elected as governor in Nigeria, following Moses Adasu’s election in 1992.
Governorship
As Governor, Alia has expressed commitment to improving security, enhancing agricultural development, and promoting functional education in Benue State. His administration aims to build an economy focused on food production and processing, ensuring food security, wealth creation, and poverty reduction.
Table of Contents
Blocking Peter Obi’s Humanitarian Visit
On April 14, 2025, Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, accused Governor Alia of obstructing his planned humanitarian visit to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and health institutions in Benue State. Obi stated that despite multiple attempts, he was unable to reach Governor Alia directly and was eventually informed by the governor’s aide-de-camp (ADC) that the governor was unavailable. While en route to Makurdi, Obi’s security team received a statement from the Benue State Government indicating that unscheduled visits were discouraged and that the safety of such visitors could not be guaranteed. Obi criticized the move, emphasizing that his visit was purely humanitarian and not political .
Allegations of Judicial Interference
Governor Alia has faced criticism over alleged interference in the judiciary. A rights group accused him of undermining judicial independence by attempting to unlawfully remove the Chief Judge of Benue State, deploying thugs to intimidate judges, and disregarding court rulings on local governance. The group called for investigations into these allegations to uphold democracy and the rule of law .
Political Tensions and Assembly Disputes
Tensions have also arisen between Governor Alia and members of the Benue State House of Assembly. Reports suggest that some lawmakers, particularly those perceived as loyal to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, have been denied constituency allowances and official vehicles. The governor’s office has denied these allegations, stating that any delays were due to budgetary constraints and that efforts were being made to address the issues .
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