Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the house of representatives, says he is not nursing a gubernatorial ambition.
Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency of Benue state, spoke on Tuesday in Abuja after announcing his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party (LP).
The lawmaker said the defection was driven by a commitment to serve his people, adding that it was about positioning for continued service ahead of 2027.
“I want to categorically put it on record that our defection is about service to our people,” he said.
“It is about making ourselves available again for service in 2027, and our people have taken a very firm position that the Labour Party is the only available vehicle that will take us to the expected destination. As the servant of the people, I have no choice but to be part of the Labour family.
“So, I think there is a need for us to step down our old behaviour from the APC, wear a new lens and see things differently. There’s no governorship ambition in sight at the moment, but we cannot rule that out in the near future.”
Agbese pledged loyalty to George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), whom he described as his “benefactor”.
“To the end of time, the SGF remains my father, my greatest benefactor. He made it possible for me to be here. I remain grateful to him, and I will be grateful to him to the end of the world,” he said.
Agbese’s exit from the APC follows a deepening crisis in the party in the north-central state, rooted in a power struggle between Hyacinth Alia, the state governor, and Akume.
Attempts to broker peace, including interventions by the presidency and the APC national leadership, have hit a brick wall.
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