JUST IN: Another PDP and Labour Party House of Reps members defect to APC

While Mr. Ngozi Lawrence Okoli from Delta State is of the LP, Mr. Akinpacho Festus Olaruwaju, who hails from Ondo State, is of the PDP.

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read their defection notices during Wednesday’s plenary.

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Okoli, representing Oshimili/Aniocha federal constituency of Delta State, was warmly received into the APC fold by the principal officers of the House, comprising the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, and the House leader, Prof Julius Ihonvhere.

Okoli, in the letter read by the Speaker, explained that he took the decision to join the APC after extensive consultation with his political associates and constituents in Delta state.

Okoli further explained that the quest to a himself with the renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta state was the basis for his decision.

The lawmaker argued that he had to join the APC to attract benefits closer to his constituents in Delta State.

Earlier on, Mr. Akinpacho Festus Olaruwaju, representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency of Ondo State, formally defected to the APC on the floor of the House.

Unlike Okolie, Olaruwatu, who was roundly applauded by APC members, cited internal conflicts within the opposition peoples democratic party (PDP) as a reason for his decision.

“This is due to internal conflicts within my former party and my desire to position my constituents for the great benefits of Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Government,” the lawmaker stated. “Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regard as we cooperate together to develop the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he claimed.

However, the Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, raised a point of order questioning the legitimacy of the defection.

“Mr. Speaker, if you listened carefully to the letter, you would have noticed that our colleague used singular pronouns all through, ‘I, I, I..’ There was no mention of his constituents or the people he represents,” Chinda said. “It’s clearly a personal decision, and he is on the floor alone.”

The Minority Leader urged the House to begin enforcing Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prohibits lawmakers from defecting from the parties that sponsored their election without justifiable cause.

The house has witnessed several defections in recent months.

On October 2, 2024, Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa East/Ukwa west in Abia, left the PDP for the APC. On October 30, Sulaiman Abubakar from Gummi/Bukkuyum in Zamfara, also joined the ruling party.

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By December 5, four Labour Party lawmakers and one PDP member had defected to the APC, further tilting the balance in the lower chamber.