PDP’s Ugliest decision puts APC ahead in House of Reps as 260 lawmakers may not return

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has become the majority party in the House of Representatives in place of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with 13 more members crossing carpet among the various parties in the House.

Findings have revealed that over 260 lawmakers may not return to the House by June this year when the seventh Assembly draws its curtains.

However, the new configuration of the House is as follows: APC— 179; PDP— 162; smaller parties—19, bringing the total to 360.

Deputy Chairman House Committee on Media and Publicity, Rep Victor Ogene, confirmed the new House configuration in an interview with Vanguard.

As at yesterday, eight legislators who were hitherto in the ruling party defected to various parties. They include: Hon. Abdulmalik Cheche (Niger), who was alleged to have attempted to slap the Senate President, David Mark. He left the PDP for the APC.

Others who defected to APC include: Victor Ogene, APGA (Anambra); Fort Dike, APGA (Anambra); Ibrahim Kamba, PDP (Kebbi); Garba Umar, PDP (Kebbi); Abdumalik Cheche, PDP (Niger); Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, APGA (Anambra) as well as Zakari Haliru, PDP (Niger).

However, Madwatte Anthony, PDP (Adamawa) defected to the PDM; Wison Nathaniel,PDP (Adamawa) defected to SDP while Benjamin Aboho from PDP (Benue) also defected to APGA.

Tambuwal had earlier also announced the defections of Eddie Mbadiwe (Imo) from APGA to the PDP just as the little known Social Democratic Party, SDP, gained three more members, two in Ogun State and one in Taraba.

Both Reps. Murtala Kayode Busari and Ibrahim Adeniyi, formerly of APC and Accord respectively, joined the SDP in Ogun State, just as Rep. Jerry Manwe left the ruling PDP in Taraba for the party.

The gale of defections started about two years ago when 37 legislators left the PDP for APC. Afterwards, there were occasional swings in the movements until Speaker Tambuwal defected from PDP to APC last October.