Reps’ leadership may face shuffle as Agbese eyes Labour Party

A potential defection by Philip Agbese, deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, is set to trigger a leadership contest within the green chamber, as lawmakers prepare to resume plenary Tuesday after the Sallah break.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Ogbadibo/Okokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State, is said to be concluding plans to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 election. While the move has yet to be formally announced, there are indications that only procedural steps remain.

His expected exit carries implications beyond party alignment. By convention, spokesperson roles in the National Assembly are retained by the majority party. Should Agbese defect, the APC would be required to nominate a replacement, setting off a quiet contest within its ranks for one of the more visible positions in the House.

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The process will fall under the leadership of Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House with attention likely to focus on how quickly the ruling party moves to fill the gap and maintain its hold on the chamber’s messaging structure.

Agbese’s planned move is closely tied to the prolonged internal crisis within the APC in Benue State, which has deepened since the 2023 general election.

The dispute pits Governor Hyacinth Alia against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in a contest for control of the party’s structure in the state.

Alia’s emergence as governor marked a political shift for the APC in Benue, but it did not resolve underlying tensions.

Akume, a former governor and a central figure in building the party’s network in the state, has retained significant influence, particularly among federal lawmakers.

Since then, both camps have struggled to assert control. Allies of the governor accuse Akume of mobilising National Assembly members against the state government, while Akume’s supporters argue that the governor has marginalised key stakeholders and consolidated decision-making within a narrow circle.

Efforts to reconcile the factions have so far failed. Interventions by the presidency, the APC national leadership, and the Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, have not produced a lasting resolution.

In December 2025, Vice President Kashim Shettima warned that the dispute could have “grave consequences” if unresolved ahead of the next election cycle.

The standoff has effectively split the APC in Benue into rival blocs, with implications for candidate selection and party cohesion as 2027 approaches. For lawmakers aligned with either side, political calculations are increasingly shaped by where they stand within that divide.

Agbese is widely seen as aligned with the Akume camp, placing him at odds with the governor, who is expected to play a decisive role in determining APC candidates in the state.

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His reported planned move to the Labour Party is therefore viewed as both a strategic repositioning and a response to the uncertainty within the APC.

Sources familiar with the development said the defection is largely settled, but has been delayed by the need to formally notify the Speaker and the ongoing legislative recess.

“He has concluded the process. What remains is the formal announcement, which will be done in line with House procedures,” a lawmaker said.

When the House reconvenes, the development is expected to move from speculation to formal action. Beyond the immediate vacancy it would create, the episode underscores how internal party disputes at the state level are beginning to shape alignments within the National Assembly.