Agbese secures LP rep ticket for second term

The member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency and Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has secured the Labour Party (LP) ticket for the 2027 House of Representatives election after polling more than 52,000 votes in the party’s direct primaries across the Enone constituency in Benue State. Agbese emerged unopposed in the exercise conducted across the 35 council wards of Ado, Okpokwu, and Ogbadibo Local Government Areas, with party faithful turning out in large numbers to affirm his candidacy. The federal lawmaker had defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party in February 2026 on the floor of the House of Representatives. Announcing the results, the party’s National Returning Officer for Benue State, Dr. Aminu Atonu, described the primary election as peaceful, transparent, and credible. Atonu also disclosed that Dr. Samuel Onuh was returned unopposed as the Labour Party’s candidate for the Benue South Senatorial District, while philanthropist Dr. Mathias Byuan emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general election. Speaking shortly after his affirmation, Agbese thanked constituents for what he described as an overwhelming demonstration of confidence in his leadership. He noted that despite the rainfall, thousands of supporters trooped out across the constituency to reaffirm the mandate they gave him in 2023. He said the massive turnout indicated the growing acceptance of the Labour Party in the constituency and validated his decision to move from the APC to the LP.