Daniel Onjeh, an All Progressives Congress aspirant for the Benue South Senatorial District, has withdrawn his support for President Bola Tinubu and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, announcing his alignment with the opposition ahead of the next general Elections.
Onjeh disclosed the decision on Thursday, sharing footage of a recent meeting with Rabiu Kwankwaso, the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress. The former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students also declared his backing for the NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing himself as “humbly Obidient.”
In a post accompanying the video, Onjeh suggested his principles had been misunderstood by APC leadership. “They misconstrued my principles as stubbornness. Now, I’m humbly Obidient. You go where you’re valued,” he wrote.
Onjeh did not explicitly state the reason for his defection. However, the move follows his failure to secure the APC senatorial ticket during the party’s primary election. He had been a vocal supporter of both Tinubu and Alia leading up to that contest.
The development signals a notable shift in Benue South’s political landscape, where Onjeh commands a recognizable profile from his student leadership days. His crossing to the NDC ticket alongside high-profile figures like Kwankwaso and Obi could reshape voter calculations in a district the APC has prioritized.
Neither the presidency nor the Benue State government has issued an official response. The NDC has yet to formally confirm Onjeh’s role within its campaign structure. Observers expect the realignment to trigger further defections as parties finalize their slates for the upcoming polls.
