Nigeria: APC Reps Now 220 As 7 a/Ibom Lawmakers Dump PDP, YPP

The wave of defections in the House of Representatives continued on Thursday, with seven lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State crossing over to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising the party's membership in the chamber to 220.

The defectors include six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from the Young Progressives Party (YPP). Their letters of defection were formally read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during plenary.

The lawmakers attributed their decision to unresolved internal crises and deepening divisions within the PDP, both in Akwa Ibom and at the national level. They said the infighting had made it increasingly difficult to deliver effective representation to their constituents.

The six defectors from the PDP are Paul Ekpo, Unyime Idem, Martins Etim, Okpolu Ukpong Etteh, Uduak Odudoh, and Okon Ime Bassey. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo of the YPP also defected to the APC.

The defections come just weeks after Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno reportedly shifted allegiance to the APC, signalling a broader political realignment in the state.

Reacting to the development, House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda expressed concern and condemned the move. He argued that the basis cited for the defections was both inaccurate and constitutionally invalid.

Chinda urged the Speaker to invoke Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides for the declaration of seats vacant in cases of defection without a justifiable division in the original party.

"These defections are unlawful. The reasons given do not meet the constitutional threshold for such a move, and we urge the House to act in accordance with the law," Chinda said.

With Thursday's defections, APC's strength in the House has grown from 178 to 220 members. The PDP has dropped to 90, down from 113. Other party breakdowns are as follows: Labour Party (LP): 26 (down from 35); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): 16 (down from 19); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): 6 (up from 5); African Democratic Congress (ADC): 1 (down from 2); Social Democratic Party (SDP): 2; and YPP: 0 (down from 2).

Currently, there are five vacant seats in the House--four left by deceased APC members and one formerly held by a Labour Party member.

Read the original article on Daily Trust.