…as ruling party tightens grip on House as political realignment deepens
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives witnessed another round of political shake-ups on Thursday as six lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC). 
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen made the announcement during plenary after reading letters from the defectors, signalling yet another phase in the ruling party’s growing consolidation of power within the chamber.
Five of the defecting lawmakers hail from Enugu State, while one represents Plateau State. They include Daniel Ago (LP, Plateau), Chidi Obetta (PDP, Enugu), Anayo Onwuegbu (PDP, Enugu), Dennis Agbo (PDP, Enugu), Martins George (PDP, Enugu), and Nnolim Nnaji (PDP, Enugu).
In their letters, the legislators pointed to internal crises and irreconcilable divisions within their former parties as reasons for their decision to join the APC.
Their defection was met with cheers from members of the ruling party as they were formally received at the Speaker’s seat. The event marked another symbolic victory for the APC, which has in recent months continued to attract lawmakers from opposition ranks.
This latest development comes amid widespread political realignments across the country, particularly in the South-East, where the APC has been working to strengthen its base ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers say the wave of defections reflects shifting alliances within Nigeria’s political landscape and underscores the ruling party’s increasing influence in both the National Assembly and key states.
Notably, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, who recently joined the APC, and the party’s National Chairperson, Nentawe Yilwatda, were both present in the chamber during Thursday’s session.
The defections also come amid growing signs of internal instability within the PDP and LP following the 2023 general elections.
The PDP has continued to battle factional disputes across several states, while the LP has been plagued by a leadership crisis between its National Chairperson, Julius Abure, and the faction led by Nenadi Usman.
The latest defections will further consolidate APC’s numerical strength in the House and weaken the opposition’s voice on key legislative debates. The APC already holds a comfortable majority in both chambers of the National Assembly.
Enugu, traditionally a PDP stronghold, appears to be witnessing a gradual political shift.
However, the development has once again drawn attention to Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a lawmaker can only defect to another party if there is a division within his current party.
