Three Katsina Lawmakers Defect from PDP to APC Amid Ongoing Party Crisis
Three members of the House of Representatives from Katsina State have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),TheCable reports.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read their notices of defection during Thursday’s plenary session. The lawmakers cited persistent internal crises within the PDP as the main reason for their departure.
Abdullahi Balarabe, representing Bakori/Danja federal constituency, described the PDP as being embroiled in a “protracted crisis,” prompting his decision to join a more stable political platform.
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Abubakar Albaba Aliyu, who represents Batsari/Safana/Dan-Musa federal constituency, pointed to the party’s “lack of cohesiveness” as his reason for leaving.
Yusuf Majigiri, representing Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency, spoke of an “unresolvable internal crisis” that has plagued the party.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, APC State Chairman Muhammad Ali, and other key political figures from the state were present in the chamber to witness the defections.
A Growing Trend of Defections
These latest developments are part of a broader wave of defections in the House of Representatives, primarily to the APC.
- On October 2, 2024, Chris Nkwonta (Ukwa East/Ukwa West, Abia) moved from PDP to APC.
- On October 30, Sulaiman Abubakar (Gummi/Bukkuyum, Zamfara) also defected to the APC.
- By December 5, four lawmakers from the Labour Party and one from the PDP had joined the APC.
- On February 11 and 12, Amos Magaji (Kaduna) and Garba Koko (Kebbi) left the PDP for the APC.
- On March 18, PDP members Jallo Mohammed (Igabi, Kaduna) and Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa, Niger) defected, citing the party’s ongoing internal conflicts.
- On March 27, Clara Nnabuife (Orumba North/South, Anambra) left the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), claiming she was sidelined in party affairs.
Most recently, on Tuesday:
- Six PDP lawmakers defected to the APC.
- Two Labour Party (LP) members crossed over to the PDP: Obetta Chidi (Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South, Enugu) and Dennis Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu).
- Victor Nwokolo (Ika North East/Ika South, Delta), Julius Pondi (Burutu), and Thomas Ereyitomi (Warri North/South/West) all left the PDP for the APC.
- Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi/Patani), a long-serving member since 1999, also joined the APC.
- Ukodhiko Jonathan (Isoko North/Isoko South) and Ezechi Nnamdi (Ndokwa/Ukwuani) followed suit, leaving the PDP for the ruling party.
The series of defections signals significant political realignment ahead of upcoming political cycles, with the APC steadily gaining strength in the lower chamber.
