Labour Party Suffers Major Blow as Five Lawmakers Defect to Ruling APC

Labour Party Suffers Major Blow as Five Lawmakers Defect to Ruling APC

In a shocking move, five lawmakers from the Labour Party have abandoned ship to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The mass defection, which was announced on Thursday, saw Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau) switch allegiance to the APC .

According to one of the defected lawmakers, the decision to leave the Labour Party was driven by personal conviction. "You cannot just work on the decision of the people at the constituency level because you are dealing with people with different levels of understanding," he explained. "I am taking this decision based on conviction. That is why whether you like it or not, there are people within the constituency who are convinced that it (defection) is the right decision for them" .

The defection letter was read on the floor of the House of Representatives by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, marking a significant blow to the Labour Party's presence in the legislature. The party had made significant gains in the 2023 general election, winning major seats across the country.

This development raises questions about the internal dynamics of the Labour Party and whether the defections are related to the ongoing crisis within the party. The APC, on the other hand, has been bolstered by the new additions, further solidifying its position as the ruling party.

Similar defections have occurred in the past, with lawmakers switching parties for various reasons. For instance, Chris Nkwonta, an Abia lawmaker, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in October 2022 . The APC has been the recipient of several high-profile defections, with some lawmakers citing personal convictions or party crises as reasons for their switch.

The implications of this mass defection are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the Labour Party's national presence and the balance of power in the House of Representatives. As the political landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the APC has gained significant momentum, while the Labour Party faces an uncertain future.