The entire Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defection on Thursday during plenary after reading the lawmakers’ resignation letters. Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, was present at the event.
The defectors said they left their former parties due to internal conflicts that, according to them, have weakened the opposition.
One of the lawmakers said their decision was driven by a desire to align with the ruling party and bring development to their constituencies. “Just come to Enugu and see what is happening there. The governor is doing a lot for our people. We also want to bring our state to the centre,” he said.
He added that the move was a deliberate step to end Enugu’s long stay in opposition politics. “For too long, our dear Enugu State has remained in opposition, watching from the sidelines as others shaped the destiny of our nation. That era is over,” he said.
The lawmaker also argued that joining the APC would allow them to attract more projects, jobs, and infrastructure to their communities. “This decision wasn’t made on impulse. It comes from deep reflection and a burning desire to see our people rise above limits,” he added.
Those who defected include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, Nnolim Nnaji, and Mark Obetta.
In a related development, Daniel Asama, who represents Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, also resigned from the Labour Party and joined the APC.
The mass defection further strengthens the ruling party’s presence in the House and reduces the number of opposition lawmakers from the South East.
