Political Earthquake: Four Labour Party Lawmakers Jump Ship to APC

By Achimi muktar

In a dramatic political twist, four lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking conversations about shifting loyalties within Nigeria’s legislative landscape.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, announced the defections on Thursday after reading official letters from the legislators. The defecting members include:

Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency, Imo State)

Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna State)

Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency, Cross River State)

Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo State)

The Labour Party, which emerged as Nigeria’s third-largest political force in the 2023 general elections, gained national prominence through its impressive performance. The party won numerous legislative seats and the governorship of Abia State, driven by the surge of support for its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Despite his third-place finish in the presidential race, Obi’s ability to win in multiple states rivaled that of the eventual winner, President Bola Tinubu.

The defections have raised questions about the Labour Party’s staying power and the allure of the ruling party. With the APC tightening its grip on the federal legislature, the departures could impact the LP’s influence and future political strategy.

While details surrounding the motivations of the defectors remain unclear, this move underscores the fluid nature of Nigerian politics, where allegiances often shift in response to changing dynamics and opportunities.

The implications of these defections for the Labour Party’s momentum remain to be seen, but one thing is certain—political watchers will be closely monitoring what comes next in this unfolding drama. Stay tuned.