Ahead of party primaries, a surge of political shifts has swept through the House of Representatives, as 28 lawmakers defected to different parties yesterday in a move widely seen as an attempt to secure tickets.
The defections cut across several political platforms, with the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and other smaller parties losing members to competing rivals.
Among those who switched parties is Philip Agbese, representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, who dumped the APC for the Labour Party.
Akanni Clement Ademola of Boluwaduro/Ifedayo/Ila Federal Constituency in Osun State moved from the PDP to the Accord Party.
Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, a PDP lawmaker for Ideato Federal Constituency, of Imo State, defected to the Action Peoples Party (APP), alongside Nwogu Mathew of Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, who left the LP for APP. Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi defected from LP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while Harris Okonkwo of Idemili North/Idemili South also joined. Seyi Sowunmi of Ojo Federal Constituency in Lagos equally defected to ADC from LP.
From Sokoto State, Mani Maishinko Katami (Binii/Silame), Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal), and Umar Yusuf Yabo (Yabo/Shagari) all left the PDP for ADC. Mustapha Abdullahi of Ikara/Kubau in Kaduna State also defected from APC to ADC.
The APC recorded significant gains from the NNPP and PDP, particularly in the northern region. Adamawa’s Mohammed Bassi (Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo) moved from PDP to APC. Several Kano State lawmakers, including Ghali Tijjani Mustapha (Ajingi/Albasu/Gaya), Shehu Bello (Fagge), Dankawu Idris (Kumbotso), Hussain Hassan Shehu (Nassarawa), Rabiu Yusuf (Sumaila/Takai), Garba Mohammed Chiroma (Gezawa/Gabasawa), Ibrahim Mohammed (Gwale), and Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe (Tofa/Dawakin-Tofa/Rimingado), all defected from NNPP to APC.
Others who joined the APC include Jaafaru Yakubu (Bali/Gassol) and Sadiq Abbas Tafida (Jalingo/Yorro/Zing) of Taraba State, Ibrahim Mohammed (Birnin-Kebbi/Kalgo/Bunza) of Kebbi State, Aliu Madaki (Deputy Minority Leader, Dala Federal Constituency of Kano), and Bello Shinkafi of Shinkafi/Zurmi in Zamfara State.
The Accord Party also gained from the defections, with Oladebo Lanre Olomololaye of Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan Federal Constituency, Osun State, joining from PDP. Ikwechegh Mascot of APGA also defected to the Labour Party.
The lawmakers attributed their defections to the internal crisis within their respective political parties.
