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Defection Storm Rocks Reps as Parties Jostle for 2027 Advantage
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HBy Gloria Ikibah
A fresh round of defections has shaken the House of Representatives, with lawmakers switching allegiances in what signals early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Upon resumption of plenary following the Easter recess, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read out multiple defection letters, pointing to a rapidly shifting political landscape. He brushed aside fears of an emerging one-party state, arguing that the movement across party lines reflects a functioning democracy.
“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” Kalu said.
Among the high-profile moves, Rep. Thaddeus Attah of Lagos State exited the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress, citing internal instability within his former party.
“the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” he noted, had hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
The Peoples Democratic Party took the biggest hit, losing five members in the latest reshuffle. Some defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, while others aligned with the ADC. In Osun State, two lawmakers also left the PDP for the Accord Party.
The APC, however, was not spared, as a handful of its members crossed over to opposition parties, underlining the two-way nature of the political shifts.
With less than two years to the next general elections, defections appear to be gathering pace, driven by internal party disputes, strategic calculations and the quest for stronger political platforms.
Observers note that as parties begin to consolidate ahead of primaries, more lawmakers are likely to reassess their positions, making further realignments almost inevitable.
Plenary was later adjourned in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who passed away earlier in April at the age of 66.
The Police Command in Kwara has condemned the killing of three worshippers and abduction of 15 others at a prayer ground in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, on Sunday in Ilorin, said that the incident occurred at Ori-Oke Ajaiye, on the outskirts of Ikiran Village in Ekiti LGA.
The Police spokesman stated that the incident was reported on Sunday by Pastor Adebayo Abiodun of Ijo Ajaye Ati Igbala, Ekerin Village, Ekiti LGA.
She said that the pastor reported that armed men invaded the prayer ground during a vigil on Saturday at about 8:30 p.m., firing sporadically and killing three persons while abducting 15 others to an unknown destination.
“Upon receipt of the distress report, the Divisional Police Officer in Ekiti Division immediately mobilised operatives to the scene.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, directed a comprehensive tactical and intelligence-driven operation involving the Police Drone Team, PMF personnel, intelligence units and other operational assets for a coordinated rescue mission,” Ejire-Adeyemi stated.
The CP described the attack as barbaric, callous and unacceptable, assuring families of the victims that the command was committed to rescuing those abducted and apprehending the perpetrators.
He also assured residents of Ekiti LGA and the state of ongoing security operations, including bush combing and intelligence gathering, to track down the assailants.
Adekimi urged members of the public to remain calm and vigilant, and to provide credible information that could assist ongoing operations.
(NAN)
Nigeria’s pioneer Head of Mission to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ambassador Sani Bako, has stated that diplomatic relations between the two post-colonial states, which began as political solidarity 50 years ago, have evolved into a partnership delivering results in trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
The partnership deepened with the establishment of resident missions. Nigeria opened its Embassy in Hanoi, the administrative capital, in 2007, and Vietnam reciprocated by opening an Embassy in Abuja in the same year.
Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of Nigeria-Vietnam relations, which took effect on 25th May 1976, Ambassador Bako noted that the volume of trade between the two countries stood at $1 billion as of 2024.
“Vietnam currently exports electronics, garments, textiles, and other consumer goods to Nigeria, while importing crude oil, cashew nuts, and several raw materials,” he said. “Interestingly, the trade balance favours Nigeria.”
He stressed that the time has come for economic ties between both countries to evolve into a partnership that would lead to technology transfer, manufacturing, and agricultural investment. He added that Vietnam has expertise in modern agriculture that Nigeria could leverage.
Ambassador Bako, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria-Vietnam Trade and Cultural Association (NVETCA), added that the association is facilitating private sector engagement to deliver visible partnerships in farming, manufacturing, and other ventures that will strengthen economic ties in the near future.
He recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a recent meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Quoc Hung, emphasized that Nigeria is open for business with Vietnam. “Vietnam is a partner we want to grow with,” the President stressed.
Ambassador Bako also noted that Ambassador Hung has called on Nigeria to address lingering visa obstacles affecting officials and business travelers. He pointed out that a 2019 visa waiver agreement reached by both countries has not been fully implemented, adding that resolving this would be critical to sustaining momentum in bilateral relations.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has clinched the APC presidential ticket for 2027 after a landslide win in the party’s primaries held Saturday across 36 states and the FCT.
The results were declared Sunday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. Tinubu polled 10,999,967 votes, defeating sole challenger Stanley Osifo who got 16,504 votes.
Osifo failed to register a single vote in 21 states and the FCT. His only recorded vote came in Edo State.
His best showings were in Niger with 5,248 votes, Kano with 2,675, Bauchi with 2,650, and Abia with 1,007.
Tinubu swept every state, with his highest tallies in Lagos at 814,988, Adamawa at 644,149, Kaduna at 618,914, and Imo at 582,960. Kano delivered 500,852 votes, Katsina 467,003, and Gombe 450,517.
Other notable results:
– Bayelsa: 227,192
– Delta: 407,646
– Borno: 414,988
– Enugu: 383,382
– Akwa Ibom: 389,197
– Benue: 374,787
– Ogun: 322,485
– Kwara: 310,990
– Sokoto: 301,000
The party said the primaries covered all 484 wards in Kano, where Tinubu also swept every ward.
With the outcome, Tinubu is now the official APC candidate heading into the 2027 general election.
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