The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya, has confirmed that Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, remains suspended from priestly duties following a disciplinary decision taken in 2022 over his involvement in partisan politics.
Alia, a Catholic priest before venturing into politics, was suspended after declaring his intention to contest the 2023 Benue State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suspension was announced in a letter dated May 20, 2022, issued by the Diocese of Gboko under Bishop Avenya’s leadership.
The action followed the governor’s decision to pursue elective political office, despite the Catholic Church’s restrictions on clerics participating in partisan politics and holding certain public offices.
The Church’s position is guided by the Code of Canon Law, particularly Canon 285(3), which prohibits clerics from accepting public offices that involve the exercise of civil power.
The bishop’s reported confirmation that the suspension remains in force clarifies that Alia’s status within the Church has not changed since the disciplinary action was taken in 2022.
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