No fewer than 10,000 members of various political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP), have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The defectors were received into the PDP by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, alongside the Benue State PDP Chairman, Ezekiel Adaji, during a rally held across the three districts of Ogbadibo: Owukpa, Orokam and Otukpa on Saturday.
Among those who joined the PDP were the Labour Party Women Leader in the area, Mrs. Agnes Apeh, CSP Onah Amedu [rtd] Abel Akoh of AA Dominion and other LP chieftains who collapsed the party’s structure into the PDP in Owukpa.
The defectors said they were joining the PDP because of the people-oriented leadership and quality representation provided by Senator Moro.
They noted that his impactful legislative contributions and legacy projects “visible even to the blind” influenced their decision to leave their former parties. They pledged their unalloyed support for his re-election bid in 2027.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, CSP Onah Amedu [rtd] said their decision was hinged on the credible and people-centered representation Senator Moro has continued to provide for the Benue South Senatorial District.
“We have seen what Senator Abba Moro has done and what he continues to do for our people,” Amedu said.
“His projects and legislative contributions are visible to all both the young and the old. We have therefore decided to join hands with him in the PDP to move Ogbadibo forward and ensure he returns to the Senate in 2027. We are fully committed and our support is total.”
The people of Ogbadibo unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Senator Moro and endorsed him as their unopposed candidate for the 2027 Benue South Senatorial election.
While receiving the new members, Senator Moro expressed appreciation for what he described as a “right decision in the right direction,” assuring them of equal rights, relevance and fair treatment in the PDP.
He dismissed rumours suggesting he had plans to defect to the APC or any other party, insisting that he remains firmly committed to the PDP.
Accompanying Senator Moro were several party leaders, including: Rt. Hon. Adaji Ezekiel, State PDP Chairman; Rt. Hon. Solomon Onah; Hon. Mrs. Owakoyi Igharuwa, North Central Women Leader; Hon. Mrs. Alice Albert, PDP State Women Leader; Hon. Egli Ahubi Johnson; Hon. Edor Ogbole; Hon. Gabriel Olofu; Hon. Godwin Emmanuel Oyiwona; Comr. Austin Ochiga; Hon. Mrs. Regina Lawani, Zone C Women Leader; Hon. Ebije Benjamin; Hon. Mrs. Amina Audu, former Council Chairman of Okpokwu; Hon. Isaac Urama Adoyi; Hon. Okanga Okponya; Hon. Francis Onoja Abutu; Hon. Chief Mike Okpotuche; Hon. Joseph Anyebe.
Other dignitaries and party stalwarts in attendance were Hon. Emmanuel Ogwuche, Hon. Sunday Ogira, PDP Chairman Ogbadibo; Hon. Shuaibu Apeh; Hon. Omale Abuh; Hon. Ujih Sunday; Hon. Ameh Paul Ijachi; and Hon. Alphonsus Odoh, among others.