In a significant political development, Hon. Ojema Ojotu, the lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made during Tuesday’s plenary session at the House of Representatives, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Ojotu, who currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways, cited persistent internal crises and unresolved leadership tussles within the PDP as the primary reasons for his defection. In a letter read aloud by the Deputy Speaker, Ojotu stated, “After consultation with my constituents, family members, and political associates, I have decided to dump the PDP for the APC.”
Ojotu’s defection gives the APC full control of all 11 House of Representatives seats from Benue State, marking a major shift in the state’s political landscape. The move was met with mixed reactions from opposition lawmakers, some of whom challenged the legitimacy of the defection. However, the Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader defended Ojotu’s decision and formally welcomed him into the APC caucus.