Mass Defection Shakes PDP, Labour Party as Lawmakers Flock to APC Amid Chaos

Two House of Representatives members, Peter Akpanke and Paul Nnamchi, have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpanke, who represents the Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara federal constituency in Cross River State, was elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo federal constituency in Enugu State, initially won his seat on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, formally announced their defection letters during Tuesday’s plenary session.

Akpanke cited persistent internal conflicts within the PDP as his reason for leaving, while Nnamchi pointed to a deepening leadership crisis in the LP. Their departure adds to a growing wave of defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This pattern began gaining momentum in late 2024. On October 2, Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West, Abia) left the PDP for the APC, followed by Sulaiman Abubakar (Gummi/Bukkuyum, Zamfara) on October 30.

By December 5, four Labour Party lawmakers and one PDP representative had switched to the ruling APC, shifting the dynamics in the lower chamber. The trend continued into February, with PDP’s Amos Magaji (Kaduna) and Garba Koko (Kebbi) also joining the APC.

On March 18, Jallo Mohammed (Igabi, Kaduna) and Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa, Niger) defected from the PDP, both citing internal crises. Just over a week later, Clara Nnabuife (Orumba North/South, Anambra) left the Young Progressives Party for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), claiming exclusion from party affairs.

The wave intensified on May 6 when six PDP lawmakers moved to the APC. Simultaneously, two LP legislators, Obetta Chidi (Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South, Enugu) and Dennis Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu), joined the PDP. Meanwhile, PDP members Victor Nwokolo (Ika North East/Ika South, Delta), Julius Pondi (Burutu), Thomas Ereyitomi (Warri), and Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi/Patani) switched to the APC.

Isoko North/South representative Ukodhiko Jonathan defected from APC to PDP, while Ezechi Nnamdi (Ndokwa/Ukwuani) crossed over to the APC from PDP.

On May 8, three Katsina-based PDP lawmakers—Abdullahi Balarabe (Bakori/Danja), Abubakar Albaba Aliyu (Batasari/Safana/Dan-Musa), and Yusuf Majigiri (Mashi/Dutsi)—moved to the APC, citing deepening divisions and instability in the PDP.

The shift continued on May 15, when NNPP lawmakers Kabiru Usman (Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya) and Abdullahi Sani (Karaye/Rogo) joined the APC.

PDP members Oluwole Oke (Osun) and Sunday Umeha (Enugu) also defected to the APC.

By May 28, Okolie Lawrence and Akingbaso Olanrewaju had left the LP and PDP respectively, choosing to align with the APC, solidifying the party’s increasing dominance in the House.