Politics
Two PDP And LP Reps Defect To APC Amid Party Crises
By Benjamin Abioye

House of Reps members Peter Akpanke (PDP, Cross River) and Paul Nnamchi (LP, Enugu) have defected to the APC, blaming internal conflicts in their former parties.
Two more members of the House of Representatives have officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), continuing a steady wave of defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Peter Akpanke, who represents Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara in Cross River State, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo in Enugu State, also announced his exit from the Labour Party (LP). Both lawmakers informed the House of their defection during plenary, and the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, read their letters on the floor.
Akpanke explained that unresolved internal issues within the PDP drove his decision. Nnamchi cited a leadership crisis within the LP as his reason for switching.
These latest defections add to a growing list of lawmakers abandoning their former parties for new platforms. In October 2024, Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West, Abia) left the PDP for the APC, followed by Sulaiman Abubakar (Gummi/Bukkuyum, Zamfara) later that month.
By early December, at least five lawmakers — including four from LP and one from PDP — had joined the APC. In February, Amos Magaji (Kaduna) and Garba Koko (Kebbi) also moved from PDP to APC.
On March 18, Jallo Mohammed (Igabi, Kaduna) and Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa, Niger) joined the ruling party, both citing internal troubles within the PDP.
On March 27, another shift occurred when Clara Nnabuife of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), representing Orumba North/South in Anambra, defected to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). She said her decision was because she felt “sidelined” within her former party.
More notable changes happened in May. On May 6, six PDP lawmakers joined the APC, while two LP members crossed over to the PDP. Among them were Obetta Chidi (Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South, Enugu) and Dennis Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu), both moving from LP to PDP. Victor Nwokolo (Ika North East/Ika South, Delta), Julius Pondi (Burutu, Delta), and Thomas Ereyitomi (Warri Federal Constituency, Delta) also left the PDP for the APC.
Nicholas Mutu, a long-serving PDP member representing Bomadi/Patani, aligned with the APC after years in the green chamber. Ezechi Nnamdi, a first-term lawmaker from Ndokwa/Ukwuani, and Ukodhiko Jonathan (Isoko North/Isoko South) were among those who also made the switch — Nnamdi to APC and Jonathan to PDP.
On May 8, three PDP lawmakers from Katsina State defected to the APC. Abdullahi Balarabe (Bakori/Danja) explained he wanted a more stable political platform, referencing the “protracted crisis” in the PDP. Abubakar Albaba Aliyu (Batasari/Safana/Dan-Musa) said his move was because of the party’s “lack of cohesiveness,” while Yusuf Majigiri (Mashi/Dutsi) pointed to a “high level of internal crisis without cure.”
The wave continued on May 15, when Kabiru Usman and Abdullahi Sani — both formerly of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and representing federal constituencies in Kano — joined the APC.
Later in May, more PDP lawmakers followed suit. Oluwole Oke (Osun) and Sunday Umeha (Enugu) both defected to the APC. On May 28, Okolie Lawrence and Akingbaso Olanrewaju moved from the Labour Party and PDP respectively to join the ruling party.
The growing number of defections has raised concerns about political stability and internal democracy within opposition parties.
As of now, no official statement has been made to verify or dispute the details surrounding many of these defections.
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