By: Ojay Matthew
In a major political realignment, all members of the Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives have officially joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, made the announcement during Thursday’s plenary session after reading the lawmakers’ resignation letters from their former parties.
The defection, which was witnessed by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, marks a significant power shift in the state’s political landscape, effectively placing the entire Enugu delegation in the lower chamber under the APC.
The lawmakers explained that their decision was motivated by persistent internal crises within the PDP and Labour Party, which they said had weakened the opposition’s ability to provide stable leadership.
Following the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party had secured seven of the eight federal constituencies in Enugu, while the PDP won one. With Thursday’s defection, all eight seats are now under the control of the APC.
Speaking to journalists after the announcement, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency and spokesperson for the defectors, said the lawmakers’ move was influenced by the developmental strides of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.
“If you come to Enugu today, you will see the level of transformation taking place. The governor is delivering for our people, and we believe it’s time to align with the centre to bring more growth and opportunities to our state,” he said.
Nnaji described the defection as a strategic decision aimed at positioning Enugu for greater participation in national development.
“For too long, Enugu has remained in the opposition, watching others shape the nation’s future. That time has passed. We are ready to be part of Nigeria’s progress under the APC,” he added.
According to him, the lawmakers’ alignment with the ruling party would open doors for more federal projects, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment in the state.
The defectors include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, Nnolim Nnaji, and Mark Obetta.
In a related development, the member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Daniel Asama, also announced his defection from the Labour Party to the APC during the same plenary.
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