About 30 Lawmakers Defect in House of Representatives Amid Party Crises
About 30 Lawmakers Defect in House of Representatives Amid Party Crises
About 30 Lawmakers Defect in House of Representatives Amid Party Crises
A wave of defections swept through Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday as about 30 lawmakers switched political parties, citing internal crises within their former platforms.
The defections were formally announced during plenary by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, who read separate letters submitted by the affected lawmakers.
Among the prominent defectors is the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, who moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party (LP), citing unresolved internal disputes within the APC in Benue State.
Similarly, Deputy Minority Leader Aliu Madaki defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the APC.
Other notable movements include Ikenga Ugochinyere leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform, while Aliyu Abdullahi moved from the APC to the African Democratic Congress. George Ozodinobi also defected from the Labour Party to the ADC.
Speaking after plenary, Agbese said his decision was guided by the need to better serve his constituents in Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency. He dismissed claims linking his defection to gubernatorial ambitions in Benue State, stressing that his move was purely in the interest of effective representation.
He added that his constituents largely support the Labour Party, noting that recent registration efforts had attracted over 10,000 members, indicating strong grassroots backing.
The defections cut across several states and political parties, with lawmakers joining the APC, ADC, Accord Party, and Labour Party. Some members of the PDP from states including Osun, Gombe, and Taraba were among those who switched allegiance.
Speaker Abbas, while acknowledging the developments, wished the defecting lawmakers well in their new political journeys, as the latest moves signal a significant shift in party alignment within the lower chamber ahead of the 2027 general elections.
About 30 Lawmakers Defect in House of Representatives Amid Party Crises
