Etanabene: Lawmakers Who Abandoned Labour Party Is Trying To Come To APC for 2027 Election

Benedict Etanabene, the lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives, has stated that the recent defection of some Labour Party legislators is not due to any crisis within the party.

He explained that those lawmakers who switched from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are simply positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.

Etanabene suggested that the APC’s recent victories in the Ondo and Edo State governorship elections have left some opposition members uneasy, prompting them to reassess their political futures.

He further emphasized that there is no leadership crisis in the Labour Party, contrary to the claims made by the four lawmakers who defected to the APC. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Etanabene clarified that the defectors remain loyal to the Julius Abure faction of the Labour Party, and their defection has no real justification.

“There is no leadership crisis in the Labour Party,” he affirmed. “Most of those who left are supporters of Julius Abure’s leadership. This trend is not limited to the Labour Party. The recent events in Edo and Ondo have been alarming, and I expect other opposition members to follow suit, as they look ahead to 2027, when it will likely be business as usual for the APC.”

The lawmakers who defected include Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo), all of whom joined the APC on Thursday.

When asked if he planned to leave the Labour Party in the future, Etanabene firmly ruled out such a move. He also expressed concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria, noting that votes often do not count and calling for reforms. He urged politicians to prioritize ethics in politics and remain loyal to the parties that helped them achieve political office.