Just in: Two PDP Reps defect to APC, citing party divisions

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) suffered another significant setback on Tuesday as two of its House of Representatives members defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal divisions for their defection.

Rep. Adamu Tanko, who represents Suleja, Gurara, and Tafa Federal Constituency of Niger State, and Rep. Jallo Husseini Mohammed, representing Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna, formally announced their exit from their party in a letter that was read on the House floor by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

The defectors said that their political ideologies now align more closely with those of the APC.

Their movement adds to a growing wave of defections in the 10th House of Representatives, where over 10 lawmakers, including five recent defectors from the Labour Party and PDP, have left their original parties to join the APC since the House’s inauguration in June 2023.

Persecondnews had reported that Rep. Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, defected from the PDP to the APC on October 2, 2024, citing a faction within his party as the reason..

Also, Rep. Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu, representing Ethiope federal constituency, on Thursday, December 5, 2024, announced her defection from PDP to APC in a letter addressed to the Speaker and read on the floor of the House.

Reps. Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe, formerly of the Labour Party, also defected to the APC, citing intra-party crisis.

Also, Rep. Amos Magaji (Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency, Kaduna) of the Federal House of Representatives, on February 11, defected from PDP to the APC.