Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read several defection letters on the floor, reflecting increasing realignments within Nigeria’s political space.
A fresh wave of defections hit the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers switched parties at the resumption of plenary after the Easter break.
Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read several defection letters on the floor, reflecting increasing realignments within Nigeria’s political space.
He dismissed concerns that the development points to a move towards a one-party system, saying it instead reflects democratic freedom.
“This is to show the country that no party is stifled. 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.
One of the notable defections came from Lagos, where Thaddeus Attah, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency, left the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.
In his letter, Attah blamed “the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” which he said has affected effective representation of his constituents in recent months.
The Peoples Democratic Party recorded the highest losses, with five lawmakers defecting.
Abubakar Abdul from Niger State moved to the All Progressives Congress.
Yakubu Noma from Kebbi State joined the ADC.
Ibrahim Mohammed, also from Kebbi, defected to the APC.
In Osun State, Mudashiru Alani, representing Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa, and Adetunji Olusoji, representing Odo-Otin/Ifelodun/Boripe, left the PDP for the Accord Party.
The APC also suffered losses, as David Fuoh from Taraba defected to the PDP, while Bashir Zubair from Kaduna joined the ADC, underscoring the two-way nature of the defections.
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