APC secures two-thirds majority in House of Reps as six lawmakers join party
Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday secured a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives following the defection of six opposition members.
Five members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing various constituencies in Enugu State, alongside a member of the Labour Party (LP) from Plateau State, announced their defection to the APC during plenary session on Thursday.
The development means the APC now commands at least 242 members in the 360-member House, surpassing the two-thirds majority threshold of 240. The PDP’s membership has dropped to 74, while the LP, NNPP, APGA, SDP, and YPP collectively hold around 43 seats.
The notice of their defections were read in seperate letters by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House with Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC national chairman and Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State who recently joined the ruling party himself all in attendance.
Those who defected from the PDP include: Chidi Mark Obetta, representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency; Anayo Onwuegbu, representing Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency; Dennis Nnamdi Agbo, representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency; Oke Martins, representing Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency; and Nnolim John Nnaji, representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency.
Also joining them was Daniel Asama, representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, who defected from the Labour Party.
The lawmakers attributed their decision to “prolonged internal crises, unresolved leadership disputes, and deepening factional divisions” within their former parties. They stated that the move followed extensive consultations with their constituents, who advised them to align with the APC to ensure more effective representation and greater development in their constituencies.
Obetta, formerly the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, noted that the PDP’s enduring leadership tussles had crippled its internal cohesion and rendered the party ineffective both nationally and in Enugu State.
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Abbas congratulated the new APC members, Yilwatda and Mbah formally welcomed them to what they described as “the most progressive political family in Africa”.
APCs victory in the House followed closely its victory in the Senate where it has also secured a two-third majority.
The defection of Samaila Kaila from the PDP mid-October took the APC’s number to 73 making it a two-thirds majority in the 10th Senate, further consolidating its control of the upper chamber.
Like his colleagues, Kaila also attributed his defection to internal crises within the PDP, including “prolonged internal divisions, recurring factionalisation and loss of strategic direction,” which he said had hindered his ability to effectively perform his legislative duties.
