PDP Stalwarts Lead Mass Defection to APC in Benue, Declare “The PDP Is Dead”
A significant political shift has unfolded in Benue State, as more than 10,000 members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors, primarily from Orokam and Owukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, include prominent former lawmakers and executive members of the PDP.
The defection was led by PDP stalwart Engr. Julius Inedu, who, alongside over 10,000 supporters, officially joined the APC in Ehaje II, Owukpa. Among the notable defectors were former lawmaker Hon. Michael Abakpa, ex-PDP chairman Hon. Michael Idoko, and James Agene, the longest-serving PDP executive member in the region. Also defecting were Hon. Onoja Obute, former deputy leader of the Ogbadibo Legislative Council, and the immediate past women leader of the PDP, along with other serving and former executive members.
At the defection ceremony held in Ekere Owuka, Engr. Inedu and his supporters symbolically burned their PDP membership cards, signaling their total break with the opposition party. Inedu expressed his newfound belief in the APC’s vision of progress, declaring, “I have seen the light of progress. I have received the gospel of development. Like the man who met Jesus and declared, ‘I was blind, but now I can see,’ I too now see the path of progress illuminated by the APC.”
Inedu, speaking on behalf of the defectors, urged the people of Ehaje II and Ogbadibo to embrace the opportunities that come with the APC’s development-focused agenda, praising Hon. Philip Agbese, the APC representative for the area, for his leadership.
Comrade Austine Agada, the APC State Chairman, hailed the defection as a monumental moment in Benue’s political landscape, emphasizing that the wave of new members reflected the APC’s commitment to transformative leadership. “We welcome our new members and assure them of inclusivity as we chart a path of progress together,” Agada stated.
Hon. Philip Agbese also praised the defectors, affirming that their decision to join the APC was rooted in their belief in the party’s vision. “Together, we will build a better future for Ogbadibo, Benue, and beyond,” Agbese declared.
Both Agada and Agbese, along with other APC leaders, assured the defectors that they would be fully integrated into the party, with equal opportunities for all as they work together toward unity and development in Benue State.
