The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deepening factional crises within the PDP at the national level.
Bonzena announced his defection on Monday, revealing that 15 other PDP lawmakers in the Assembly had also submitted letters formalising their move to the APC.
The defecting members include Deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali 2); Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1); Tafarki Eneme (Kurmi); Akila Nuhu (Lau); Musa Chul (Gassol 1); and Josiah Yaro (Wukari 2).
Others are Tanko Yusuf (Takum 1); Veronica Alhassan (Bali 1); Anas Shuaibu (Karim Lamido 2); Nelson Len (Nguroje); Umar Adamu (Jalingo 1); Joseph Kassong (Yorro); John Lamba (Takum 2); Happy Shonruba (Ardo-Kola); and Zakari Sanusi (Ibi).
The Speaker stressed that the decision was taken in the collective interest of the state and should not be misinterpreted as a personal move.
“Our people should not misinterpret this decision of ours. It is for the interest of the state. We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members. We also want the people of Taraba to see this as the best decision for the state and continue to support the government,” he said.
Former Speaker Peter Diah, who represents Mbamnga Constituency and is also a member of the APC, welcomed the new entrants, describing their defection as a positive shift. He noted that the Assembly had been fair to the former APC minority and expressed satisfaction that all lawmakers have now aligned with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.
With the mass defection, the Taraba State House of Assembly now has no minority members, leaving the APC as the sole party represented in the chamber.
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