Two Opposition Lawmakers Defect to APC Amid Ongoing Wave of Political Realignments

  Two members of the House of Representatives have officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) , continuing a trend of...

 

Two members of the House of Representatives have officially defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), continuing a trend of high-profile defections from opposition parties.

The defectors are Peter Akpanke, representing Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwarra Federal Constituency of Cross River State, and Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency in Enugu State.

Mr. Akpanke left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing internal party disputes, while Mr. Nnamchi dumped the Labour Party (LP), pointing to ongoing leadership crises within the party.

Their defections were announced in separate letters read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during Tuesday’s plenary session.

A Growing Trend

Their move adds to the growing number of lawmakers who have left their parties for the APC since October 2024, citing internal wrangling and leadership instability.

• On 2 October 2024, Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West, Abia) moved from the PDP to the APC.

• Sulaiman Abubakar (Gummi/Bukkuyum, Zamfara) joined the APC on 30 October.

• By 5 December, four LP lawmakers and another PDP member had also joined the ruling party.

• In February 2025, Amos Magaji (Kaduna) and Garba Koko (Kebbi) followed suit.

• On 18 March, PDP’s Jallo Mohammed and Adamu Tanko defected to the APC.

The trend intensified in the following months:

• 27 March: Clara Nnabuife switched from YPP to APGA.

• 6 May: At least six PDP lawmakers and two LP members—Obetta Chidi and Dennis Agbo—defected.

• Around that same time, PDP lawmakers Victor Nwokolo, Julius Pondi, Thomas Ereyitomi, Nicholas Mutu, Ezechi Nnamdi, and Ukodhiko Jonathan also joined the APC.

• 8 May: Three PDP lawmakers from Katsina—Abdullahi Balarabe, Abubakar Albaba Aliyu, and Yusuf Majigiri—defected, blaming prolonged internal crises.

• 15 May: Kano lawmakers Kabiru Usman and Abdullahi Sani left the NNPP for the APC.

• Later in May, Oluwole Oke (Osun) and Sunday Umeha (Enugu) left the PDP.

• 28 May: Okolie Lawrence (LP) and Akingbaso Olanrewaju (PDP) also joined the APC.

The continuous stream of defections has strengthened the APC’s presence in the lower chamber and raised fresh concerns about party stability within Nigeria’s opposition ranks.