Political Landscape Shifts as Five Lawmakers Defect to APC from PDP and Labour Party

In a significant political shift, five lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns about party loyalty and electoral integrity.

The defections, announced during a recent plenary session, include four members from the LP and one from the PDP.

The defectors from the Labour Party are:

Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Federal Constituency)

Matthew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna)

Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Cross River

Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo State)

Additionally, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, a member from the PDP and daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, also made the switch to the APC. House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas congratulated the lawmakers on their decision, suggesting they had made the right choice.

The PDP has condemned these defections as unfortunate and inconsistent with democratic norms. The party’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, described the move as irrational and vowed to pursue legal action against the defectors. He emphasized that lawmakers can only justify leaving their party in cases of internal division or a merger, citing Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi criticized the defectors for lacking ideology, stating that such defections highlight a broader issue within Nigeria’s political landscape, where politicians often switch parties without consequences. He expressed concern that these moves weaken the opposition’s ability to challenge the ruling party effectively.

This wave of defections is part of a growing trend in Nigeria’s political ecosystem, where party loyalty is increasingly fluid. The recent changes have raised questions about the stability and unity of opposition parties as they prepare for future elections.

As political maneuvering intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections, analysts suggest that these defections could significantly impact the opposition’s capacity to mount a serious challenge against the APC. The situation remains dynamic as both parties navigate this shifting political landscape.