Dare Babalola
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has gained two third majority of the House of Representatives on Thursday with the defection of six members of the opposition.
The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, disclosed the defections during plenary after reading separate letters submitted by the lawmakers.
Five members of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) from the South East and one member of the Labour Party (LP) from Plateau State defected to the APC at Thursday’s plenary.
Those who defected are Daniel Asama Ado (Plateau); Chidi Mark Obetta (Enugu); Phillips Anayo Owuegbu (Enugu); Nnaji Nnolim (Enugu); Denis Agbo (Enugu) and Matthew Nwogu (Imo).
The defection of the six lawmakers has increased the APC’s strength in the House to 242 members, while the PDP now has 74 members.
In their letters to the speaker, the lawmakers cited “irreconcilable differences” and internal divisions within their former parties as reasons to join the APC.
After the announcement, the defectors were led to the Speaker’s seat, where they were formally welcomed into the ruling party amidst applause from APC lawmakers.
The development marks another round of defections to the APC in recent weeks, signalling the party’s growing consolidation of power in the National Assembly, following earlier switches by PDP and LP lawmakers who cited instability and factionalism in their former parties.
The defections occur amidst renewed political realignment nationwide, particularly in the South-east, where the APC is strengthening its presence and expanding its base ahead of the 2027 elections.
