Four House of Representatives members have defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress.
The defectors are Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
Their defection was confirmed during a plenary session in which Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read their official letters of defection on the Green Chamber floor.
Donatus Mathew, who represented Kaura Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, stated that he left the Labour Party due to personal conviction.
Mathew, who made headlines in 2023 for his incredible journey from commercial motorbike rider to parliamentary seat, indicated that his decision may not be popular with all constituents, but it was in their best interests.
“You cannot just work on the decision of the people at the constituency level because you are dealing with people with different levels of understanding, I am taking this decision based on conviction. That is why, whether you like it or not, there are people within the constituency who are convinced that it (defection) is the right decision for them. There are those who are skeptical, waiting for the outcome.” he said
The avalanche of defections was a setback for the opposition Labour Party, which has struggled to maintain its dominance in the House of Representatives since the 2023 general election.
