A member of the House of Representatives from Benue State, Ojema Ojotu, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu made the announcement on Tuesday during plenary, after reading Ojotu’s defection letter before members of the Green Chamber.
In his letter, Ojotu, who represents Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, attributed his decision to the lingering internal crises within the PDP, saying the party’s instability had made it difficult to continue under its platform.
He added that the move followed wide consultations with his constituents, family, and political allies.
Following the announcement, tension briefly rose in the chamber as the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki of the NNPP, called on the Deputy Speaker to declare Ojotu’s seat vacant.
However, his motion was countered by the Majority Leader, Ibrahim Halims, who cited Order 7, arguing that a lawmaker has the right to leave a party in the face of unresolved internal conflict.
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Kalu, while welcoming Ojotu to the APC, assured him of the ruling party’s full support and collaboration.
Ojotu currently chairs the House Committee on Inland Waterways.
With his defection, the APC has now secured all 11 federal constituencies in Benue State, consolidating its dominance in the North Central state’s representation in the House of Representatives.