Over 10,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other political parties have defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
The defection took place on Saturday, May 13, 2025, during the official unveiling of the ADC in Agatu by the Benue State Chairman of the party, Rt. Hon. Terngu Tsegba. The ceremony, held in the Benue South Senatorial District, drew a massive crowd of decampees, political supporters, and admirers of Sir John Ngbede, a leading political figure in Agatu.
As part of the event, Ngbede donated a building to serve as the new ADC secretariat in the area.
In his address, Tsegba commended the local leadership for what he described as the largest unveiling event in the state. He hailed Ngbede’s role in mobilizing grassroots support, noting that his political influence continues to shape Agatu’s political direction. Tsegba assured the people that the ADC is committed to inclusiveness, stability, and internal democracy, expressing confidence that the party will sweep all elective positions in the LGA.
On his part, Ngbede — a former Commissioner of Water Resources, ex-Chairman of Agatu LGA, former PDP State Chairman, and 2023 Deputy Governorship Candidate — was formally unveiled as the leader of ADC in Agatu. Declaring the dominance of PDP and APC in Agatu “over,” Ngbede’s remarks drew loud cheers and chants of solidarity from the crowd.
The event also featured the commissioning of the new party office, underscoring the ADC’s expanding influence in Benue politics.
Dignitaries present included Rt. Hon. Samson Okwu (State Secretary); Hon. Chris Adaba Aba, a.k.a. Mad Lion (immediate past PDP Chairman); Hon. David Adejoh Olofu (former Commissioner of Finance and ADC frontline leader); Alhaji Salisu Sule Odaliko (CPC Chairman); Rt. Hon. Herman Hembe (former Labour Party Governorship Candidate); Chief Mrs. Abeje Egwa (Pro-tem State Woman Leader); Prof. Salifu David (Chairman of Apa Legacy Sustainability Initiative); and Engr. Solomon Eigege.
Other stakeholders at the unveiling were Hon. Apochi Nelson Owoicho, Hon. Ekoja Bashir, Hon. Abu Echo, Hon. Owoicho Oyi, Hon. Henry Otache, Hon. Otokpa, Hon. Joseph Ngbede, Hon. Philip Ebeyakwu, Hon. Moses Agbo (leader of the decampees), Comr. Abu E. Adegahi, Engr. Nasir Abubakar, Hon. Usman Echono (Ochacho), Hon. Ibrahim Yusuf (10 10), Hon. Zack Rice, Hon. David Oge, Comr. Okoh Lawrence, Comr. Dan Atayi, Comr. Hwande T.C., among others.
The large turnout and high-profile defections signal a major boost for the ADC as it positions itself as a grassroots-driven alternative to the PDP and APC in Benue State.
