By Gift ChapiOdekina
Six members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday announced their departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read letters from the members notifying the chamber of their decisions and the reasons behind the defections.
The lawmakers Adebayo Adepoju, Adedeji Stanley Olajide, Ojo Sunday, Najeem Oyedeji, Folajimi Oyekunle, and Abbas Adigun attributed their decisions to the lingering leadership crisis, internal divisions, unresolved disputes, and legal battles within the PDP.
According to their letters, extensive consultations with constituents and political stakeholders informed their decisions, which they described as necessary to ensure effective representation.
However, joining the PDP was Etanebene Benedict, who defected from the Labour Party. He attributed his decision to the dissolution of the party’s executive structure, which he said left members without recognised officials to engage with during the nomination process.
He further claimed that many leaders of the party were openly supporting President Bola Tinubu, creating an increasingly difficult environment for him to remain in the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, Auwalu Gwalabe of Bauchi State announced his departure from the PDP to the APM, with effect from May 4.
In a related development, former Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, formally resigned from his position as Minority Leader following his defection from the PDP to the APC.
Chinda, who recently emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election in Rivers State, informed the House of his resignation, bringing an end to his tenure as leader of the opposition caucus in the Green Chamber.
