- Amos Magaji, House of Representative member for Jaba/Zango Kataf, defected from PDP to APC due to internal crises
- His defection followed those of Chris Nkwonta and Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu
- Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda condemned the move, calling for Magaji's seat to be declared vacant
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered yet another defection in the House of Representatives, with Amos Magaji, the lawmaker representing Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Magaji’s decision to switch allegiance comes amidst ongoing turmoil within the PDP, which he described as a key factor in his departure.
In a letter read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during the plenary session of Tuesday, February 11, Magaji cited the unresolved crises plaguing the party from both the national and state levels as reasons for his move.
“The unresolved crises in the PDP, from the national to the state level, have made it difficult for me to remain in the party,” Magaji explained in his defection letter.
Magaji's defection marks the third such move since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
He follows Chris Nkwonta and Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu, who also crossed over from the PDP to the APC, representing Abia and Delta States, respectively.
In response to the defection, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda condemned the move and called on the Speaker to declare Magaji's seat vacant, citing section 68(1g) of the Nigerian Constitution.
Chinda argued that while the law allows lawmakers to defect from the party on which they were elected, it also specifies that such a move should result in the loss of their seat in the House.
Omo-Agege announces mass defections from PDP to APC in Delta
Meanwhile, TheRadar reported that former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, had announced that 10 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Delta State House of Assembly were preparing to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Omo-Agege, who was the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, made this announcement on Saturday, February 9, while welcoming Chief Itiako Ikpokpo (aka Malik), a two-term chairman of Isoko South Local Government Area, into the APC.
The event took place at Uro-Irri, Delta State, and saw party members and political leaders come together to celebrate the defection.
