In a move that sends ripples through Benue State’s political landscape, the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Thomas Dugeri, has officially abandoned the All Progressives Congress (APC) and thrown his lot in with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The switch, timed well ahead of the 2027 general elections, signals a strategic regrouping among the state’s power players.
Dugeri, the voice of the Kwande West State Constituency, sealed his defection during a private audience with former Governor Samuel Ortom at the latter’s Abuja residence. The meeting marked their first face-to-face encounter since the lawmaker’s bombshell announcement, and it was Adzua Ashongo, the PDP’s deputy chairman in Benue, who formally presented Dugeri to the party’s patriarch.
The lawmaker didn’t mince words about his gratitude, thanking Ortom and the PDP leadership for rolling out the welcome mat for him and his loyal supporters. He also tipped his hat to party faithful across Kwande and beyond, calling their reception a morale booster. “I am fully committed to the PDP,” Dugeri declared, “and I will join forces with fellow leaders and members to fortify the party as we march toward 2027.” He framed his decision as a deliberate choice to align with the PDP’s vision and collaborate with stakeholders to clinch victory in the next electoral showdown.
Ortom, for his part, embraced the new arrivals with open arms, promising a level playing field for both fresh faces and seasoned party veterans. He painted the PDP as a sprawling political family where every member carries weight in the collective mission. The former governor didn’t stop at pleasantries—he urged Dugeri and his cohort to roll up their sleeves, unite, and drive the party’s resurgence in Benue, with an eye on reclaiming the state’s top seat in 2027.
