In the lead-up to party primaries, the House of Representatives has witnessed a notable wave of political shifts, as 28 lawmakers changed their party affiliations yesterday in a strategic move to secure candidacy tickets.
These defections have affected various political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and several smaller parties, all of which lost members to opposing factions.
Among those who switched allegiances is Philip Agbese, who represents the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, having departed from the APC to join the Labour Party. Akanni Clement Ademola, who represents the Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency in Osun State, made a transition from the PDP to the Accord Party. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, a PDP representative from the Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, also defected to the Action Peoples Party (APP), alongside Nwogu Mathew from the Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, who left the Labour Party for APP.
Moreover, Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi relocated from the LP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Harris Okonkwo from Idemili North/Idemili South followed his lead. Seyi Sowunmi of the Ojo Federal Constituency in Lagos also joined the ADC from the LP.
In Sokoto State, three members—Mani Maishinko Katami (Binni/Silame), Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal), and Umar Yusuf Yabo (Yabo/Shagari)—defected from the PDP to the ADC. Mustapha Abdullahi from Ikara/Kubau in Kaduna State also changed from APC to ADC.
In contrast, the APC gained a number of lawmakers from the NNPP and PDP, especially from the North. Notably, Mohammed Bassi from Adamawa's Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo transitioned from the PDP to the APC. A series of lawmakers from Kano State, including Ghali Tijjani Mustapha (Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya), Shehu Bello (Fagge), and others made the switch from NNPP to APC.
Additional defections to the APC included Jaafaru Yakubu (Bali/Gassol) and Sadiq Abbas Tafida (Jalingo/Yorro/Zing) from Taraba State, as well as Ibrahim Mohammed (Birnin-Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza) from Kebbi and Aliu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader, Dala Federal Constituency of Kano) among others from Zamfara State.
The Accord Party also recorded additions, with Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye from Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency in Osun State joining from the PDP, while Ikwechegh Mascot of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) transitioned to the Labour Party.
Lawmakers attributed their decisions to switch parties to ongoing internal issues within their respective political groups.
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