OKANGAMANIA: LP sinks APC, PDP, others in Ogbadibo

…Abba Moro’s loyalists, others join Labour Party, pledge support for Philip Agbese’s re-election

The Labour Party, LP, has recorded a major boost in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State following the defection of hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to the party.

The defections, which cut across the three districts of Ogbadibo — Orokam, Owukpa and Otukpa — are part of growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The new LP members also pledged their support for the re-election of the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, popularly known as Enone, Hon. Philip Agbese.

Among those who joined the Labour Party were some supporters and political associates of the senator representing Benue South, Abba Moro.

They included Sunday Akor from Ehaje Ward II in Ogbadibo, alongside other grassroots political figures.

The latest defections followed ceremonies held in Owukpa and Orokam, where supporters gathered to formally join the Labour Party and declare their support for Agbese’s return to the House of Representatives in 2027.

In Orokam, over 1,000 people were reported to have participated in the exercise, with defectors coming from the PDP, APC, ADC and other political parties.

A former House of Assembly aspirant under the ADC, Hon. E.E. Justice, who spoke on behalf of some of the defectors, said their decision was influenced by what they described as the Labour Party’s commitment to inclusive leadership and grassroots development.

He also cited the political influence of Agbese, popularly referred to by supporters as the “Okanga 1 of Enone Kingdom,” as a major factor behind the movement.

Some of the defectors publicly discarded symbols of their former political parties before receiving Labour Party flags and membership materials.

The Benue State Chairman of the Labour Party, Hon. Williams Ochonu Okefie, alongside the Ogbadibo LGA Chairman of the party, Hon. Peter Enejor, received the new members.

Okefie assured the defectors that they would enjoy equal opportunities within the party and urged them to work with existing members to strengthen the LP across Ogbadibo.

The developments in Owukpa and Orokam were characterised by large gatherings of supporters, music and political activities, with party leaders describing the turnout as evidence of growing support for the LP in the local government.

Supporters of Agbese said the defections demonstrated increasing grassroots backing for the lawmaker and his bid to retain the Enone Federal Constituency seat in 2027.

They maintained that his representation in the National Assembly had strengthened his relationship with constituents and expressed confidence that the latest political realignments would further boost his re-election campaign.

The Labour Party is expected to intensify its mobilisation across Orokam, Owukpa and Otukpa districts as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.