For the umpteenth time, two opposition lawmakers from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Labour Party (LP), in the House of Representatives, Thursday dumped their parties for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing defection in the parliament.
Those who defected were Hon. Chimaobi Atu, representing Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, who dumped the LP, while Hon. Joseph Nwobasi, representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi, who abandoned APGA.
Their letters of defection were read on the floor of the chambers by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary.
Both lawmakers attributed their decision to join the APC to the lingering crisis in their parties.
Atu, in his letter to Speaker Abbas, said: “I write to inform the people’s speaker and my honourable colleagues that I formally resign my membership of the Labour Party after consultations with my constituents and critical stakeholders.
“I have therefore moved to the All Progressive Congress effective today. This decision was necessitated by the persistent internal crisis plaguing the Labour Party, both at the national level and within the state chapter, which has hindered the party’s capacity to provide the focused leadership my people deserve.
“While I remain sincerely grateful to the Labour Party for the platform it provided in the course of my political journey, I’m compelled to move forward in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR.
“His administration’s demonstrable commitment to the development of the Southeast region, particularly through initiatives like the South East Development Commission, aligns with the aspirations of my constituents.”
Nwabosi, on his part, informed the speaker that he defected alongside the chairman of APGA in his state to the APC.
These defections are coming barely a day after two members of the House abandoned their parties for the APC.
