The Labour Party, LP, has recorded another major boost in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State following the defection of over 1,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, All Progressives Congress, APC, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and other political parties.

The latest mass defection took place in Orokam District on Wednesday and came amid a wave of political realignments across Ogbadibo, comprising Orokam, Owukpa and Otukpa districts, ahead of the 2027 general election.

The defectors, comprising political stakeholders, community leaders and supporters, were formally received into the Labour Party during a ceremony attended by leaders of the party at the state and local government levels.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, a former House of Assembly aspirant on the platform of the ADC, Hon. E.E. Justice, said their decision to join the LP was influenced by what they described as the party’s commitment to inclusive leadership, development and grassroots participation.

Justice also identified the leadership and representation of the member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Hon. Philip Agbese, popularly known as Okanga 1 of Enone Kingdom, as a major factor behind their decision.

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 Local Government Chairman of the party, Hon. Peter Enejor, received the new members and assured them of equal opportunities in the party.

Also welcoming the defectors, Agbese described their decision as an indication of the growing acceptance of the Labour Party across Ogbadibo.

The federal lawmaker welcomed the new members into the LP and urged them to work with existing members to strengthen the party at the grassroots.

He assured them that there would be no discrimination between old and new members, stressing that everyone would be given an opportunity to contribute to the growth of the party.

Agbese, who is seeking re-election to the House of Representatives in 2027, has been at the centre of the Labour Party’s growing political activities in Enone Federal Constituency since joining the party.

He secured the LP ticket for the constituency earlier this year.

Troops of Enduring Peace have rescued two kidnapped victims, Ndubuisi Onuigbo and Sambo Abdullahi from their captors after military operations across the various local government areas of Plateau State. 

This was disclosed by Chinonso Oteh, the spokesperson for the operation, in a statement on Wednesday. 

He said the operation was conducted on Tuesday at about 9:00 a.m. 

“Acting on credible information on the kidnap of one Mr Ndubuisi Onuigbo, initiated a search and rescue operation leading to the successful rescue of the kidnapped victim,” Mr Oteh. 

He stated that in the wee hours of Wednesday, troops deployed at Kukawa village in Kanam Local Government Area, during a fighting patrol encountered suspected terrorists elements along the patrol route. 

“Troops aggressively pursued the terrorists leading to the immediate rescue of a kidnapped victim Mallam Sambo Abdullahi who was abandoned by the fleeing terrorists,” he noted. 

He added that the rescued victims have been successfully debriefed and reunited with their families. 

The commander of the operation, Major General Maxwell Dangana commended the troops for their professionalism and decisive posture in disrupting criminal activities.

He further appealed for calm, caution and continued support to enable troops achieve their mandate of restoring the desired Enduring Peace in the Joint Operations Area.