Twelve members of the opposition parties in the House of Representatives have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The lawmakers include members from the Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read the defection notices during plenary on Thursday, March 12.
Victor Afam (Ogbaru, Anambra), Peter Anekwe (Anambra East/West), and Lilian Obiageli (Awka North/South, Anambra) moved from the LP to the ADC.
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Peter Uzokwe (Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo, Anambra) defected from the YPP to the ADC, while Omoruyi Osaro (Egor/Ikpoba-Okha, Edo) also joined the ADC from the LP.
Zakaria Nyampa (Michika/Madagali, Adamawa) defected from the PDP to the APC.
Others who joined the APC from the PDP include Mohammed Bargaja (Isa/Sabon Birni, Sokoto), James Barka (Gombi/Hong, Adamawa), Kobis Thimnu (Guyuk/Shelleng, Adamawa), Bitrus Kwamoti (Demsa/Numan/Lamurde, Adamawa), and Midala Balami (Askira-Uba/Hawul, Borno). Jesse Onuakalusi (Oshodi-Isolo II, Lagos) moved from the LP to the APC.
The lawmakers cited internal crises in their former parties as the reason for their defections, further reducing the ranks of the PDP and LP in the House of Representatives.