Rumpus in House of Reps over Defection of Labour Party Lawmakers to APC
A political storm is brewing in Nigeria’s House of Representatives following the defection of several lawmakers elected under the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers, now sitting with the APC caucus, have attributed their decision to unresolved internal crises within the Labour Party and a desire to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The lawmakers who have so far defected include Hon. Chinedu Ogah Okere (Imo State), Hon. Donatus Mathew (Kaduna State), Hon. Akiba Bassey (Cross River State), and Hon. Esosa Iyawe (Edo State).
More recently, Hon. Fom Daniel Chollom, who represents a constituency in Plateau State, also joined the APC, bringing the total number of defectors from the LP to five in recent weeks.
While submitting his letter of defection to the Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Hon. Chollom stated that his decision was driven by a leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which he claimed had made it impossible for him to effectively represent his constituents. He further explained that he was moved by President Tinubu’s developmental strides and wanted to contribute more meaningfully by aligning with the ruling party.
“I have made this decision in the interest of my people and my conscience. The disarray in the Labour Party makes it difficult to deliver on the promises I made during the elections,” Hon. Chollom said.
In swift reaction, the Labour Party has condemned the defections as illegal, unconstitutional, and morally indefensible. The party insists that it is not experiencing the kind of division or crisis that would constitutionally justify a lawmaker’s defection.
According to Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a lawmaker is only permitted to defect from their party if there is a division within the party or it merges with another.
“The excuses given are spurious and self-serving,” said LP’s National Publicity Secretary. “There is no division in our party. What we are seeing is political opportunism, plain and simple. These lawmakers were elected on our platform and have now chosen to betray the trust of the electorate.”
The party further accused the APC of orchestrating the defections as part of a calculated strategy to weaken opposition voices in the legislature.
LP officials have vowed to challenge the defections in court and have called on the Speaker of the House to invoke the constitutional provisions that allow for the declaration of vacant seats when lawmakers abandon their party without lawful justification.
The APC, on its part, has welcomed the new members warmly, hailing their decision as a demonstration of patriotism and political maturity.
The party said the lawmakers have chosen to put national interest above partisan loyalty.
“Their decision to join our fold shows they recognize the progressive agenda of the APC under President Tinubu. We are glad to have them,” said an APC spokesman.
The defections carry significant implications for the political landscape in Nigeria’s lower chamber. With more lawmakers joining its ranks, the APC strengthens its legislative dominance, giving it more room to push through key policies and political reforms. For the Labour Party, however, the trend threatens to diminish its already fragile influence in the House and raises questions about its internal cohesion and ability to retain elected officials.
