A fresh wave of political defections swept through the National Assembly on Thursday as six members from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives formally dumped their parties for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), signalling a major realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-profile switch took place during plenary in Abuja, witnessed by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda. The atmosphere in the Green chamber was charged as the letters of defection were read out by the Speaker, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, amid loud cheers from the APC benches.
Five of the defectors are from Enugu State and until now were members of the PDP. They include Obetta Chidi representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency; Anayo Onwuegbu of Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency; Dennis Agbo of Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency; Martins Oke representing Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency; and Nnolim Nnaji representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency.
They were joined by Daniel Asama, who represents Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, and who also declared his defection from the LP to the APC.
In their separate letters addressed to the Speaker, the lawmakers attributed their defection to what they described as “protracted and irreconcilable crises” within their former parties, insisting that the internal turmoil had made it impossible for them to continue to operate effectively.
Speaker Abbas, while reading the letters and welcoming the lawmakers into the fold of the APC, applauded their decision, describing it as both “timely” and “strategic.”
“You have taken the right decision by joining the ruling party. We welcome you warmly to the APC family,” Abbas declared, drawing sustained applause from the majority side of the chamber.
It is instructive to note that Thursday’s development adds a new dimension to the shifting political dynamics in the South-East, particularly in Enugu State, where Governor Mbah recently announced his defection from the PDP to the APC. His move, observers say, may have set the tone for Thursday’s defections and could redefine political alliances across the region in the months ahead.
The presence of Governor Mbah and APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda in the gallery during the session underscored the significance the ruling party attached to the event. Party insiders describe the coordinated move as part of a broader strategy to consolidate APC’s foothold in the South-East, a region where the party has historically struggled to gain traction.
With these latest defections, the APC’s numerical strength in the House of Representatives has further increased, bolstering its dominance and potentially influencing legislative dynamics as political actors begin to position themselves ahead of the next election cycle.
