The All Progressives Congress (APC) has extended its domination of House of Representatives’ seat with yesterday’s defection of seven lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State in the Green Chamber to its fold.
The PDP members among them joined the APC in solidarity with Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno.
This defections have taken the APC tally in 360-member house to 220.
Also the APC has a comfortable lead in Senate with a membership strength of 69 out of 109 members, more defectors from opposition parties expected to increase the tally in the coming days.
As declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the number of senators-elect during the 2023 National Assembly election and their political parties include the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with 56 senators, the Peoples Democratic Party (32), Labour Party (seven), New Nigeria Peoples Party (two), Social Democratic Party (two), All Progressives Grand Alliance (one) and the Young Progressives Party (one). The number of seats declared by INEC at the time 101. Eight seats are yet to be filled.
However, both the APC and PDP later gained more members and also lost some following various court pronouncements and bye elections conducted by INEC in a few Senatorial Districts.
With some senators from opposition parties defecting to the APC, the disposition of political party membership in the 10th Senate at present is as follows: APC – 69, PDP – 30, LP – four, NNPP – one, SDP – two, APGA one and with two vacant seats formerly held by Senator Monday Okpebholo who represented Edo Central, and now Governor of Edo State and the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who had represented Anambra South.
In the House of Representatives, at inauguration in 2023, the APC had about 178 members, but the number has increased with recent defection.
Yesterday, seven members of the House from Akwa Ibom state dumped their parties, the PDP and YPP to join the growing members of the APC in the House.
Thursday’s development leaves the Young Progressive Party with no member in the House, having come into the House with 2 members.
The letters of defection of the lawmakers led by the leader of the Akwa Ibom caucus in the House, Unyime Idem were read at plenary yesterday by Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen.
The members include Alphonsus Uduak, Martin Esin, Paul Ekpo, Okpolupm Ette and Bassey Okon (from PDP) and Emmanuel Ukpong (YPP).
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The lawmakers said their decision was as a result of the lingering and unresolved crisis in the PDP and the YPP and after due consultation with their constituents.
In his letter, Unyime Idem who head the House Committee on Public Procurement said he was leaving the PDP after 26 years of membership and having served his state and country on the platform of the party.
He said he was, leaving the party as a result of the escalating crisis in the leadership of the party, especially regarding the office of the National Secretary, adding that he was leaving in line with section 68(1g).
Martin Esin said he formally resigned from the PDP in the 17th of June and joined the APC in line with the yearning and aspirations of his constituents.
Other defectors also attributed their decision to join the APC to the unresolved crisis in the PDP and the need to join the President in providing the dividends of democracy to their people.
However, Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda expressed concern about the direction the nation’s democracy was heading, adding that while the members have the right to choose which political party to belong under section 40 of the Constitution, there are implications to such actions.
He said the Constitution also spelt out what needed to be done when an elected person decide to exercise his rights under section 40, asking the Speaker to do the needful and declare the seats of the lawmakers vacant.