Okolie Lawrence and Akingbaso Olanrewaju, two members of the house of representatives, have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read their defection notices during Wednesday’s plenary.
Lawrence, the lawmaker representing Aniocha north/Aniocha south/Oshimili north/Oshimili south federal constituency of Delta state, was a member of the Labour Party (LP).
The lawmaker, said his defection to the APC will “bring governance closer” to his constituency.
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Olanrewaju, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represents Idanre/Ifedore federal constituency of Ondo state.
He attributed his defection to the crisis in the PDP, saying he wants to “align” himself with the APC “ideology and renewed hope agenda” of President Bola Tinubu.
His defection drew a protest from Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, who raised a point of order arguing that there was no crisis in the PDP.
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The speaker acknowledged the objection but proceeded with the day’s business.
GALE OF DEFECTION
The house has witnessed several defections in recent months.
On October 2, 2024, Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa East/Ukwa west in Abia, left the PDP for the APC. On October 30, Sulaiman Abubakar from Gummi/Bukkuyum in Zamfara, also joined the ruling party.
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By December 5, four Labour Party lawmakers and one PDP member had defected to the APC, further tilting the balance in the lower chamber.
The trend continued on February 11 and 12, with Amos Magaji from Kaduna and Garba Koko from Kebbi, leaving the PDP for the APC.
On March 18, two more PDP lawmakers — Jallo Mohammed (Igabi, Kaduna) and Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa, Niger) — joined the ruling party, citing the party’s internal crisis.
Just over a week later, on March 27, Clara Nnabuife, who represents Orumba north/south in Anambra, left the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), attributing her defection to being “sidelined” from party activities.
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On Tuesday, six PDP members joined the APC, while two Labour Party (LP) legislators moved to the PDP.
Obetta Chidi, who represents Nsukka/Igbo-Eze south federal constituency of Enugu, defected from the LP to the PDP.
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Dennis Agbo, representing Igbo-Eze north/Udenu federal constituency, also moved from LP to PDP.
Victor Nwokolo, representing Ika north east/Ika south federal constituency of Delta, defected from the PDP to the APC.
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Julius Pondi, representing Burutu federal constituency, also left the PDP for the APC.
Thomas Ereyitomi, who represents Warri north/Warri south/Warri west federal constituency, moved from the PDP to the APC.
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Nicholas Mutu, a PDP member representing Bomadi/Patani, joined the ruling party. He has been in the green chamber since 1999.
Ukodhiko Jonathan, representing Isoko north/Isoko south, also dumped the PDP for the APC.
Ezechi Nnamdi, a first-term member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency, moved from PDP to APC.
On May 8, three PDP members from Katsina moved from the PDP to the APC.
Abdullahi Balarabe, who represents the Bakori/Danja federal constituency, said he sought a more stable platform due to the “protracted crisis” in the PDP.
Abubakar Albaba Aliyu, who represents the Batasari/Safana/Dan-Musa federal constituency, said he left the PDP due to its “lack of cohesiveness”.
Yusuf Majigiri, representing the Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency, cited a “high level of internal crisis without cure” in the PDP.
On May 15, two lawmakers — Kabiru Usman and Abdullahi Sani, who represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies of Kano, respectively — defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC
Oluwole Oke, from Osun lawmaker, and Sunday Umeha, from Enugu, also joined the APC from the PDP.
