Former APC Benue South senatorial candidate Daniel Onjeh joins the NDC, with state chairman Ohini Ojegbe calling it a major boost as political realignments intensify ahead of Benue's 2027 elections.
Makurdi, Benue State — September 2026
The Benue State Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon. Ohini Ojegbe, has described the defection of former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, to the NDC as a "big catch," calling it a significant boost to the party's political presence in Benue South.
Ojegbe made the remark while formally receiving Onjeh into the NDC at an event in Benue attended by party stakeholders and supporters, who gathered to welcome the former APC candidate for the Benue South Senatorial District in the 2023 general election.
Onjeh's move adds to a growing list of prominent political figures shifting into Benue's opposition ranks ahead of 2027. Ojegbe said the NDC was delighted by the decision, describing it as evidence of the party's expanding footprint across Benue South.
Welcoming Onjeh, Ojegbe assured him and his supporters of a conducive political environment within the NDC, stressing that the party operates on the principle that there are "no joiners, but builders only", meaning new members are expected to actively contribute to the party's growth rather than simply join its ranks.
He said the NDC has sufficient political space and ideological accommodation for Onjeh and his followers across the senatorial district, and pledged the party's full support for his political aspirations going forward.
Onjeh is a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu. He previously contested the Benue South senatorial seat as the APC's candidate in the 2023 general election.
Onjeh's defection reflects the broader wave of political repositioning underway across Benue and Nigeria more generally, as parties jostle to strengthen their structures and attract influential figures and grassroots support ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Benue NDC said the development further demonstrates growing interest among notable political actors in the party across the state, a trend that adds to the increasingly crowded and competitive political landscape shaping up in Benue South ahead of the next election cycle.
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