13 Reps Defect as House Resumes Plenary After Four-Week Recess

The House of Representatives resumed plenary on Tuesday after a four-week recess amid a wave of defections that saw 13 lawmakers switch political parties.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen formally read the notices of defection on the floor of the House, signaling a fresh round of political realignments within the Green Chamber.

Among the lawmakers who changed party affiliations are Gaza Jonathan from Nasarawa State, who moved from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party (LP), and Alex Egbona from Cross River State, who left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also, Esosa Iyawe of Edo State defected from the APC to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), while Sani Lawal of Katsina State exited the APC for an undisclosed political party. Another Katsina lawmaker, Shehu Dalhatu, joined the PDP from the APC.

In Oyo State, six lawmakers — Adebayo Adepoju, Adedeji Olajide, Ojo Akinola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Oyekunle Folajimi, and Abass Adigun — dumped the PDP for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Others who announced their defections include Etanabene Benedict of Delta State, who moved from the Labour Party to the PDP, and Auwalu Gwalabe of Bauchi State, who left the PDP for the APM.

The lawmakers cited persistent internal crises, unresolved leadership disputes, and factional divisions within their former parties as the reasons for their decisions, arguing that the challenges had affected their ability to effectively represent their constituents.

The latest defections are expected to further reshape the balance of power in the House as political parties continue to reposition ahead of future electoral contests.