The lawmaker representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory in the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Joshua Chinedu Obika, has defected from the Labour Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Obika’s defection was formally announced during Wednesday’s plenary when the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read his notice of defection to members.
The lawmaker currently serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation.
His move comes amid a wave of defections in the National Assembly in recent months, with several lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate joining the ruling APC.
In his letter to the House, Obika said his decision was driven by the prolonged leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which he said had created deep divisions and multiple factions.
“I write with profound respect to formally notify the Honourable House of my decision to defect from the LP to the APC. This decision has become necessary and inevitable due to the prolonged and unresolved leadership crises in the LP, which has resulted in deep divisions and the emergence of multiple factions,” he stated.
According to him, several attempts to reconcile the feuding groups within the party had failed, leaving the party weakened and unable to function effectively.
“Regrettably, all genuine efforts at reconciliation have failed, thereby crippling the party’s capacity to function effectively and democratically,” he added.
Obika also pointed to the recent area council elections in Abuja as an example of how the internal crisis had negatively affected the party’s operations.
He explained that Labour Party candidates were not uploaded on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, which he said led to the disenfranchisement of many party supporters and members.
“The impact of this internal crisis was more evident during the recent Area Council elections in the FCT, where the LP candidates were not uploaded on the INEC portal, leading to widespread disenfranchisement of our supporters and members,” he said.
The lawmaker added that the situation had eroded confidence in the party’s leadership and organisational structure.
He also revealed that his decision followed persistent appeals from political associates, stakeholders and constituents who had urged him to return to the APC.
Obika further pledged his commitment to the success of the ruling party and to supporting the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
