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In a significant political development, Pastor Gideon Haanongon, a former Caretaker Chairman of Ukum Local Government Council, has officially resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The announcement came as the former council boss was formally received by the leadership of the PDP in Benue State. Chief Samuel Ortom, the immediate past Governor of Benue State and current leader of the PDP in the state, personally welcomed Pastor Haanongon during a meeting held in Makurdi today.
While receiving the defecting politician, Chief Ortom assured Pastor Haanongon of equal treatment and opportunities within the PDP, emphasizing that the party operates as an “umbrella” that provides a level playing field for all its members.
Chief Ortom further directed the PDP Zone A Chairman, Hon. Abraham Waroh, to ensure that Pastor Gideon Haanongon’s name is promptly included in the list of stakeholders from Ukum, Sankera, and the entire Zone A.
Speaking after the meeting, Pastor Haanongon expressed gratitude to Chief Samuel Ortom and the Benue State PDP leadership for the warm reception accorded to him and his team. He pledged to work assiduously towards the victory of the PDP in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
This defection adds to the growing list of politicians moving from the ruling APC to the PDP in Benue State. Pastor Haanongon’s move is seen as a boost to the PDP’s grassroots structure in Ukum Local Government and the broader Sankera axis.
Ukum LGA remains a strategic local government area in Benue politics, and the addition of a former council chairman with pastoral influence could strengthen the opposition party’s mobilization efforts ahead of future elections.
The development was shared widely on social media by Tivta Samuel Aondohemba, with the detailed report filed by Prince Tyodoo Livinus.
