Four Reps Defect to APC, One Joins Accord Party
•By Admin
ABUJA — THE House of Representatives on Wednesday recorded fresh defections as four lawmakers dumped their parties to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while another lawmaker defected to the Accord Party.
The defections were announced during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, who read the letters of the affected lawmakers on the floor of the chamber.
Those who defected to the APC are Garba Inuwa, representing Yamaltu/Deba Federalh Constituency of Gombe State; Abdullahi El-Rasheed, representing Dukku/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State; Mohammed Audu, representing Karim Lamido/Lau/Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency of Taraba State; and Joshua Obika, representing Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory.
While Inuwa, El-Rasheed and Audu defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obika announced his exit from the Labour Party (LP) to join the ruling APC.
In a related development, Adewale Morufu Adebayo, representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Oshogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency of Osun State, defected from the PDP to the Accord Party.
In their separate letters, the lawmakers attributed their decisions to persistent internal crises and leadership disputes within their former parties, which they said had weakened party structures and hindered their ability to effectively represent their constituents.
Obika, in his letter, specifically cited the emergence of multiple factions within the Labour Party as the reason for his decision to leave the party.
The development is the latest in a series of defections that have affected opposition parties in recent months, largely triggered by internal wrangling, leadership tussles and prolonged legal battles.
Political observers note that the growing wave of defections has further strengthened the APC’s dominance in the National Assembly, giving the ruling party a comfortable majority in both chambers and greater leverage in legislative business, including constitutional amendments.