The All Progressives Congress (APC) officially achieved a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives on Thursday following the defection of six opposition lawmakers.
Five members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the South-East region and one member of the Labour Party (LP) representing Plateau State defected to the APC during Thursday’s plenary session.
The defectors include Daniel Asama Ado (Plateau), Chidi Mark Obetta (Enugu), Phillips Anayo Owuegbu (Enugu), Nnaji Nnolim (Enugu), Denis Agbo (Enugu), and Matthew Nwogu (Imo).
The defection of the six lawmakers increases the APC’s total membership in the House to 242, while the PDP now holds 74 seats.
In separate letters read on the floor of the House by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, each of the defectors cited ongoing leadership crises within their respective parties as the main reason for their decision to leave.
The defection ceremony was witnessed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah; and former Minister of Defence, Fedelia Njeze, among others.
