Nigerian Lawmakers defect across parties amid political realignments

The lawmaker representing Ohafia North State Constituency in the Abia House of Assembly, Mandela Obasi, has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling Labour Party (LP).

Obasi announced his defection during an interactive session with journalists after a closed-door meeting with Abia State Governor Alex Otti in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

He said he decided to join the Labour Party to fully identify with the governor in view of the developmental projects being executed by his administration across the state.

“I officially came here to identify myself with the Governor of Abia and to join him properly in the Labour Party because of the good work he is doing in the state,” Obasi said.

He said the governor’s development agenda had made it easier for politicians to engage with their constituents.

“The good work of the governor is visible across Abia. Even in my constituency, people point to roads and other projects executed by his government,” he said.

Obasi also said that when people travel to Abiriba, his community, they readily acknowledge projects carried out by the Abia government

The lawmaker also attributed his defection to internal wrangling within the PDP, which he said had left the party without clear leadership direction.

“I am leaving PDP because we no longer have a leader. Some members of the party are already aligning with other parties. If you check the Abia House of Assembly, I am among the few members still remaining in PDP,” he said.

Obasi said he had exercised patience for a long time but decided to leave because the party was declining irredeemably.

He also expressed optimism that his supporters and political associates in his constituency would join him in the Labour Party in due course.

In a separate development, the member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory at the house of representatives Joshua Chinedu Obika, has defected from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, read Obika’s defection letter during Wednesday’s plenary.

Obika, who serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation, said he remained committed to the success of the APC and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope mandate.

The House of Representatives has witnessed several defections by lawmakers in recent months.

Also on Wednesday, three senators defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling APC.

They are Amos Yohanna, representing Adamawa North; Aminu Iyal Abbas, representing Adamawa Central; and Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, representing Zamfara North.