Four LP House of Reps members defect to APC amid controversy

In a significant political shift, four members of the House of Representatives have defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), igniting debates and stirring controversy within the Nigerian political sphere.

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defections on Thursday during a session in the green chamber, a move that has raised eyebrows and intensified partisan discussions.

The lawmakers making the controversial switch are Chinedu Okere, representing Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Federal Constituency; Mathew Donatus from Kaura Federal Constituency in Kaduna; Akiba Bassey, representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency of Cross River; and Esosa Iyawe from Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo.

They attributed their decision to what they described as a crisis within the LP, a claim that has been met with skepticism and outright criticism from some of their colleagues in the House.

Speaker Abbas, however, praised the defectors, asserting that they had made the “right decision” by aligning with the APC. This announcement came on the heels of another high-profile defection earlier this week.

Erhriatake Ibori-Suenu, representing Ethiope Federal Constituency of Delta and the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC.

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The defections have sparked protests from members of the opposition, with some lawmakers expressing disapproval. Ali Isa, the Minority Whip, and George Ozodinobi, Deputy Minority Whip and a prominent figure in the LP, have voiced strong criticisms, accusing the defectors of lacking political ideology.

Ozodinobi, in particular, condemned the APC for its role in what he called the “hunger” faced by many Nigerians, signaling the deepening division and ideological battles between the parties.

These defections are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend, with the LP and PDP losing several lawmakers to the APC in recent months.

In July, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Imo East, switched from the LP to the APC, while in October, Chris Nkwonta and Sulaiman Abubakar made the same move from the PDP to the ruling party.

The recent spate of defections has sparked concerns about the growing instability within Nigeria’s political landscape.

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Critics fear that the ongoing shifts could further weaken opposition parties, while strengthening the APC’s hold on power, especially with the 2027 general elections in sight.

The political ramifications of these moves remain to be seen, but they undoubtedly mark a pivotal moment in the current political climate.