Four members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers include Inuwa Garuba, representing Yamaltu/Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State; Abdullahi El-Rasheed, representing Dakku/Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State; and Mohammed Audu, representing Karim Lamido/Lau/Ardo-Kola Federal Constituency of Taraba State. All three defected from the PDP to the APC.
Also, Obika Chinedu, who represents Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), moved from the LP to the APC.
Meanwhile, Adewale Adebayo, representing Irepodun/Olorunda/Osogbo/Orolu Federal Constituency of Osun State, formally defected from the PDP to the Accord Party (Nigeria).
Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house, read the defection notices during Wednesday’s plenary.
The lawmakers attributed their decisions to internal crises within their former political parties.
The PDP has been grappling with a leadership dispute that has split the party into two factions.
One faction, led by Kabiru Turaki, is reportedly backed by Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, and Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State.
The opposing faction, headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed, is supported by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The ongoing internal rift within the PDP has contributed to a growing wave of defections to the APC.
