Twenty-four hours after losing four of its members in the House of Representatives to rival parties, the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday suffered fresh losses in the Green Chamber, with six lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress and the African Democratic Congress.
The Labour Party was also hit by the gale of defections, losing five members as political realignments intensified ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Announcing the defections during plenary, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, attributed the wave of cross-carpeting to lingering internal crises within the opposition parties.
Lawmakers who dumped the PDP for the APC include Bitrus Kwamoti, Zakaria Nyampa, James Barka and Kobis Thinmu, all from Adamawa State; Mohammed Bargaja (Sokoto) and Midala Balami (Borno). Okay okay I
The Labour Party lost Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu and Peter Aniekwe from Anambra State to the African Democratic Congress. Two other LP lawmakers — Jessy Onuakalusi from Lagos State and Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State — also defected to the ADC.
In addition, Peter Uzokwe, an Anambra lawmaker elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, joined the ADC.
Welcoming the defectors to the APC, Kalu described the ruling party as a broad platform open to all Nigerians, insisting that its growing membership reflects confidence in its leadership and programmes.
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