In a major political realignment, all members of the Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, formally announced their defection during Thursday’s plenary session, after reading letters of resignation from the affected lawmakers who quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).
The event, which took place in the presence of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, marks a sweeping shift in the state’s political landscape.
Before the defection, Labour Party held seven of Enugu’s eight House seats while PDP had one. With their movement to the APC, the ruling party now controls the entire Enugu caucus in the lower chamber.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the announcement, the spokesman of the defectors and lawmaker representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Nnolim Nnaji, described the move as a “bold step into the future.”
He attributed their decision to “unending internal crises” in the opposition parties and the desire to align with Governor Mbah’s developmental strides.
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“Just come to Enugu and see what is happening there,” Nnaji said. “The governor is doing a lot for our people. We want to bring our state to the centre and ensure our people benefit from national development.”
He added that joining the APC would unlock more opportunities for their constituencies, promising improved infrastructure, empowerment initiatives, and youth development.
Other defectors include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, and Mark Obetta.
In a related development, the member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Daniel Asama, also announced his defection from the Labour Party to the APC.