Four members of the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers who announced their defection on Thursday include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River) and Iyawe Esosa (Edo).
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, formally read their letters of defection on the floor of the Green Chamber, confirming their decision to join the APC.
One of the defectors, Donatus Mathew, who represents Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, cited personal conviction as the primary reason for his move.
Mathew, who made history in 2023 by winning the parliamentary election as a commercial motorcycle rider, stated that the decision was not solely based on the sentiments of his constituents.
“You cannot just work on the decision of the people at the constituency level because you are dealing with people with different levels of understanding.
“I am taking this decision based on conviction. That is why whether you like it or not, there are people within the constituency who are convinced that it is the right decision for them. There are those who are skeptical, waiting for the outcome.” Mathew explained.
The defection of these four lawmakers marks a blow to the Labour Party’s representation in the House and strengthens the majority of the APC in the National Assembly.
