Toba Owojaiye reportingÂ
Abuja, Nigeria
All is not well at the PDP following defections of house of representative members on the premise of the ongoing political crisis within the party.
Truth Live News gathered that two of its members in the House of Representatives, Husseini Mohammed Jallo and Adamu Tanko, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Jallo represents Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, while Tanko represents the Suleja/Tafa/Gurara Federal Constituency of Niger State.
In letters read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during Tuesday’s plenary session, both lawmakers cited the ongoing internal crisis within the PDP as their primary reason for defecting. Jallo expressed that the prolonged crisis had hindered his ability to effectively serve his constituents and praised the Speaker’s leadership and commitment to unity, which inspired his move to the APC. Tanko, after consulting widely with his constituents, also decided to switch allegiance to the APC.
These defections have raised constitutional concerns. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda reminded the House of a Supreme Court judgment stipulating that defections must follow due process, and questioned the compliance of the defecting lawmakers. Deputy Minority Leader Ali Isa JC challenged the defections, arguing that the PDP remains strong and united, and called for the lawmakers to withdraw their defection letters or face potential legal action.
The PDP has previously faced similar challenges, with other members defecting to the APC due to internal crises. For instance, in February, Amos Magaji, representing Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, also defected to the APC, citing unresolved issues within the PDP.
These developments highlight the ongoing political realignment and challenges within Nigerian politics, as party members reassess their affiliations amid internal conflicts and leadership disputes.