In a surprising political shift, four members of the House of Representatives have officially defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made on Thursday, December 5th, 2024, by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on the floor of the House.
The lawmakers who made the switch are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo). Additionally, Erthiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, also crossed from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.
This defection comes at a time when the Labour Party, which gained significant momentum in the 2023 elections, continues to establish itself as a formidable political force. The LP’s rise was marked by an impressive performance across various states, largely attributed to the strong candidacy of Peter Obi, who won in several regions and became a key player in Nigeria's political landscape.
The shift of these lawmakers has sparked immediate controversy, with the Minority Whip, Ali Isah JC (PDP-Gombe), calling for the declaration of the defectors' seats as vacant under Section 68(1) of the Nigerian Constitution. However, Speaker Tajudeen pushed back, asserting that the section was being misquoted and that the matter needed further clarification.
For Mathew Donatus, the defection was a matter of personal conviction. In a statement reflecting his decision, Donatus, who made history in 2023 by winning the parliamentary seat as a commercial motorcycle rider, emphasized that his move to APC was based on his belief that it was the right course for him and his constituents. While he acknowledged mixed reactions from his supporters, he was firm that some people in his constituency supported the move, while others remained cautious.
"The decision is based on conviction," Donatus stated. "You cannot simply focus on the views of everyone in the constituency because people have varying levels of understanding. Some are convinced this is the right move, while others are skeptical and waiting to see how things unfold."
This latest defection raises questions about the future of the Labour Party, which made substantial gains in the 2023 elections, establishing itself as the third-largest political party in Nigeria. Despite the setbacks from these defections, the LP remains a significant force in Nigerian politics, with its 2023 performance underscoring its growing influence.
