Labour Party Rocked Again As Another Lawmaker Dumps Party For APC

A member of the House of Representatives, Sunday Umehia, representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency in Enugu State, has officially defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Umehia attributed his defection to the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which has splintered into three rival factions, each led by Senator Nenadi Usman, Julius Abure, and Lamidi Apapa.

In a formal letter presented during plenary and read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Umehia cited the unresolved conflict as a source of confusion and instability within the party. He said his decision to join the APC was motivated by the desire to work alongside President Bola Tinubu and the APC’s leadership to ensure good governance, particularly in the South East.

Reacting to the defection, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda decried the growing trend of party-switching among lawmakers, stating that it undermines democratic integrity and breeds uncertainty in the legislature. He called for constitutional reforms to address defections, including empowering the Speaker to declare seats vacant where necessary.

Chinda also pointed out that the Supreme Court had already ruled on the Labour Party’s internal crisis, suggesting that Umehia’s justification for leaving is now invalid. He emphasized that lawmakers who defect should also relinquish any committee leadership roles, as such appointments are party-based.

This defection comes amid a broader wave of political realignments. Recently, several notable figures from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party also crossed over to the APC in Cross River State. Among them were PDP’s 2023 deputy governorship candidate Lady Emana Duke Ambrose, former Labour Party senatorial candidate and ex-House of Reps member Daniel Asuquo, and PRP state chairman Prof. Edde Iji, along with their supporters.

Also joining the APC was Ntufam Maurice Omini-Iso, a former PDP chieftain from Calabar Municipality, who praised Governor Bassey Otu’s strides in infrastructure, particularly road rehabilitation. He described the PDP as directionless and fractured, asserting that no serious politician would remain in what he called a “sinking ship.”

Speaking to the press, Ambrose commended both Governor Otu and President Tinubu for their achievements in security, agriculture, education, and infrastructure—factors she said influenced her decision to join the APC.