Senator Benson Agadaga of the Bayelsa East Senatorial District has formally defected from the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing irreconcilable differences and internal conflicts in the PDP.
In a letter he had the Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out in Wednesday’s plenary, Agadaga explained that his switch was in the wake of “deep reflection and wide consultations” with his people and allies, reiterating that “change is the only permanent thing in life.”
He appreciated the PDP for giving him the platform to serve and acknowledged the party’s burden in leading the then-President Jonathan to national leadership. But he lamented that the then-dominant PDP had reduced itself to “a shadow of its former self” undermined by internal crisis.
“It is shocking and dismayed to witness the fact that the once proud and largest political party in Africa has been reduced to a state of disorganization due to internal wrangling and irreconcilable differences. The umbrella has been torn asunder and leaking copiously; the center can no longer hold,” he said.
Agadaga announced that he had made up his mind to defect to the APC due to his fidelity to “progressive ideals” in addition to national unity and development stances of the incumbent party. “I thus hereby formally resign my membership of the tattered People’s Democratic Party and declare my defection to the All Progressives Congress with effect from today, October 29, 2025,” he stated.
Simultaneously, PDP stakeholders in Cross River North Senatorial District also made public declarations to decamp to the APC in solidarity with Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, who also crossed over to the ruling party.
Cross River North Representative Jarigbe had earlier visited President Bola Tinubu and APC state chairman Alphonsus Eba to seal his defection. On behalf of Jarigbe, his spokesperson John Agom Agom stated the move was to join President Tinubu’s agenda on reforms and contribute his voice towards national development.
“My people can be sure that defecting to the ruling party will not stop me from empowering the people and taking people-oriented projects. Better days are coming,” he vowed.
At a strategic meeting in Abuja with key PDP stakeholders, discussions revolved around joining the “progressive direction” of Cross River State under Governor Bassey Otu and the national agenda of the Tinubu administration.
Cross River PDP chairman, Venatius Ikem, commended Jarigbe’s bold move, pledging to converge with party executives once again to seek the next course of action. Hon. Godwin Offiono, Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency member representative, and former SSG Austin Edibe, among others, attended the event.
