The entire Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives on Thursday, formally declared their allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports that the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, announced their defection during plenary after reading letters of resignation submitted by the lawmakers who previously belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party.
The event was witnessed by the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah.
Explaining their decision, the lawmakers said they dumped their former political parties due to “unresolved internal crises threatening the stability of the opposition.”
Recall that after the 2023 general election, the Labour Party clinched seven out of the eight House of Representatives seats in Enugu, while the PDP secured one.
With Thursday’s move, the APC now has total control of the Enugu caucus in the Green Chamber.
Addressing journalists after the defection, the spokesman of the caucus and member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Nnolim Nnaji, said the move was influenced by their desire to align with Governor Mbah’s administration and the ruling party at the centre.
“Just come to Enugu and see what is happening there. The governor is doing a lot for our people. We also want to bring our state to the centre,” Nnaji said.
He described the defection as “a bold step into the future,” adding: “This is not just a political move, it is a bold step into the future! A step borne out of courage, clarity, and our shared determination to reposition Nkanu East and West for greatness.
“For too long, our dear Enugu State has remained in opposition, watching from the sidelines as others shaped the destiny of our nation and accessed opportunities that could have transformed our people’s lives. That era is over! We refuse to remain spectators when we can be key players in Nigeria’s progress.”
Nnaji further argued that aligning with the APC was in the best interest of their constituencies.
“By aligning with the APC, the party steering national transformation — we are connecting our constituency to the heartbeat of national development. This alignment will bring more projects, more jobs, better infrastructure, and greater empowerment for our youths, women, and communities.
“This decision wasn’t made on impulse. It comes from deep reflection and a burning desire to see our people rise above limits and take their rightful place in the national spotlight,” he declared.
The lawmakers who defected include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, Nnolim Nnaji, and Mark Obetta, among others, Naija News understands.
In a related development, the member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Daniel Asama, also dumped the Labour Party for the APC.