The Majority Leader of the Benue State House of Assembly, Thomas Dugeri, has left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dugeri, who represents Kwande West State Constituency, was formally received into the PDP by former Benue State Governor and party leader, Samuel Ortom, in Abuja.

The presentation was made at Ortom’s residence during Dugeri’s first meeting with the former governor since announcing his defection.

The lawmaker was presented to Ortom by the deputy chairman of the PDP in Benue State, Adzua Ashongo.

Dugeri expressed appreciation to Ortom and other PDP leaders for the welcome given to him and his supporters since they joined the party.

He also thanked party members in Kwande and other parts of Benue for accepting him, describing the reception as encouraging.

“I remain committed to the PDP and will work with other party leaders and members to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.

He said his move was based on his decision to work with the PDP and other stakeholders to achieve the party’s objectives in the next election.

Receiving the lawmaker, Ortom welcomed Dugeri and his supporters into the PDP, assuring them that the party would provide equal opportunities to both new and existing members.

Ortom described the PDP as a broad political family where every member has a role to play in building the party.

The former governor urged Dugeri and other members to work together to strengthen the PDP and support its efforts to regain power in Benue State in 2027.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has urged first term governors elected on the platform of the party in the zone to sit up in order to ensure their return for a second term.

The North-Central APC Forum asserted that improved performance by the governors will translate to victory for the party in the forthcoming election.

The APC Forum made the call on Sunday in a statement released by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, after a second quarter stakeholders consultative meeting in Abuja.

First term governors in the North-Central, who are seeking re-election in the 2027 election, include Ahmed Ododo, Kogi, Hyacinth Alia, Benue, Mohammad Bago, Niger and Caleb Muftwang, Plateau.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Abdullahi Sule, the governors of Kwara and Nasarawa, respectively, the two other states in the North-Central, are rounding off their second terms in office.

The North-Central APC Forum, while expressing a desire for the APC to retain the control of all the states in the zone after the 2027 elections, said the performance of the first term governors will go a long way in determining their chances of re-election.

It urged the governors to step up in the provision of dividends of democracy as the elections approach.

“We urge the first term governors in the North-Central to sit up in the discharge of their duties as the elections draw closer. Our target as the North-Central APC Forum is that the party will continue to retain control of all the states in the zone.

“As leaders of the party in their respective states, we urge the governors to take the lead towards ensuring that the North-Central remains totally under the control of the APC after the elections. The North-Central was the first geopolitical zone to come under the control of one party, APC, and we as stakeholders are proud of the feat.

“As stakeholders and dedicated party men, we declare our resolve to ensure that the North-Central retains its enviable position as the number one APC zone in the country. To this end, we are calling on the first governors to redouble their efforts in the provision of dividends of democracy to the people. We particularly urge them to pay special attention to security, the economy, agriculture, education, youth and women empowerment, and the general welfare of citizens,” the Forum said.

However, the North-Central APC Forum in the same vein commended the governors of Niger and Plateau states for their achievements in office.

The Forum noted that Bago and Muftwang have recorded notable achievements in various sectors, which it said have improved the living conditions of citizens in the two states. It highlighted improved security, economic advancement especially through investment in modernized agriculture, and empowerment programmes initiated by the governors in their states.

The Forum said Bago and Muftwang have prioritized the welfare of workers and implemented policies which have improved business activities, thereby attracting much needed private investment.

“Following the second quarter 2026 assessment of governance in the North-Central, we believe that the governors of Plateau and Niger states, Mohammed Umaru Bago and Caleb Muftwang, respectively, have recorded commendable achievements in various sectors.

“The Bago administration in Niger State has recorded major infrastructure and industrial projects including the 1,000km statewide road network and flyovers, 500-hectare solar farm and industrial park in Diko/Sabon Wuse, the Minna urban renewal and overhead bridge expansion, and the 500-unit housing estate in Kontagora.

“In Plateau State, the Muftwang administration has executed several landmark infrastructure, as well as agricultural and tourism projects, including the 19.7 km Mangu Bypass, the Plateau Potato Value Chain Project, and the remodeling of hospitality and sports centers like the Hill Station Hotel and Rwang Pam Township Stadium.

“Added to these, the administrations have recorded improvements in security and economic empowerment and several other sectors, which we believe would ensure victory for the APC in the 2027 election. Other first term governors in the zone have also made progress, but we urge all of them to do even more as the elections approach. It is our fervent desire that the North-Central retains its pride of place an the number one APC zone in the country at the end of the 2027 elections,” the Forum added.

The APC Forum expressed confidence that, with the strides recorded by Bago and Muftwang, and the performance of other governors, the pledge to deliver six million votes from the North-Central to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election is on course.

It would be recalled that, in December 2024, the Forum became the first political organization to endorse Tinubu for a second term, pledging six million votes for the President from the North-Central zone.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Benue State, Michael Aondoakaa, has said there is no agreement between him, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume; and former governor Samuel Ortom to work for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in 2027.

Aondoakaa, a former Attorney General of the Federation was reacting to claims that he had an understanding to support Atiku’s presidential ambition in 2027.

A group known as the International Centre for Transparency Nigeria, ICTN, had claimed that the former Minister of Justice, Ortom, and the SGF had a pact to work for Atiku in 2027.

Responding, Aondoakaa described the ICTN as a faceless group, stressing that “there was no such meeting, agreement, negotiation or political arrangement involving himself and the other leaders as alleged.”

Aondoakaa said, “The report is built entirely on unverified allegations, the attempt to portray him as a political bridge between Chief Ortom, Senator Akume and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not only false but devoid of any factual foundation.

“Those making the allegation have failed to provide a single piece of evidence showing where such an arrangement was discussed, when it was reached or what role he supposedly played in it.

“The attempt to drag the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, into the concoction also does nothing to make the story more credible. Mentioning prominent names cannot transform fiction into fact.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no meeting or arrangement involving Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, Chief Samuel Ortom and Senator George Akume to work for the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. No such arrangement exists.”