Ahead of the primaries by political parties, a wave of political realignments has hit the House of Representatives, with 28 lawmakers defecting to various parties yesterday in a move to position themselves for tickets.
The defections cut across party lines, with the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and smaller parties losing members to rivals.
Notable Defections
Among the defectors include Philip Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, who left the APC for the Labour Party.
Akanni Clement Ademola of Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency in Osun State switched from the PDP to the Accord Party.
Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, a PDP lawmaker for Ideato Federal Constituency, of Imo State, moved to the Action Peoples Party (APP), alongside Nwogu Mathew of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, who left the LP for APP.
Breakdown of Defections by Party
- Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi moved from LP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while Harris Okonkwo of Idemili North/Idemili South followed suit. Seyi Sowunmi of Ojo Federal Constituency in Lagos also joined ADC from LP.
- From Sokoto State, Mani Maishinko Katami (Binii/Silame), Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal), and Umar Yusuf Yabo (Yabo/Shagari) all defected from the PDP to ADC. Mustapha Abdullahi of Ikara/Kubau in Kaduna State also moved from APC to ADC.
Gains for the APC
The APC gained many lawmakers from the NNPP and PDP, particularly in the North. Adamawa’s Mohammed Bassi (Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo) switched from PDP to APC. Kano State lawmakers, including Ghali Tijjani Mustapha (Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya), Shehu Bello (Fagge), Dankawu Idris (Kumbotso), Hussain Hassan Shehu (Nassarawa), Rabiu Yusuf (Sumaila/Takai), Garba Mohammed Chiroma (Gezawa/Gabasawa), Ibrahim Mohammed (Gwale), and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe (Tofa/Dawakin-Tofa/Rimingado), all moved from NNPP to APC.
Other Defections
Others that defected to the APC include Jaafaru Yakubu (Bali/Gassol) and Sadiq Abbas Tafida (Jalingo/Yorro/Zing) of Taraba State, Ibrahim Mohammed (Birnin-Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza) of Kebbi State, Aliu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader, Dala Federal Constituency of Kano), and Bello Shinkafi of Shinkafi/Zurmi in Zamfara State.
The Accord Party also benefited from defections, with Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye of Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency, Osun State, joining from PDP. Ikwechegh Mascot of APGA moved to the Labour Party.
Reasons for Defection
The lawmakers attributed their defections to the internal crisis within their respective political parties.