Toba Owojaiye reporting
NIGERIA, KATSINA – In a dramatic twist at the House of Representatives on Thursday, three lawmakers from Katsina State dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deep-seated internal crises within their former party.
Truth Live News reports that the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read their defection letters during plenary, marking yet another wave in the ongoing realignment reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
The defectors — Abdullahi Balarabe (Bakori/Danja), Abubakar Albaba Aliyu (Batasari/Safana/Dan-Musa), and Yusuf Majigiri (Mashi/Dutsi) — all pointed fingers at the PDP’s disunity and dysfunction.
“I can no longer remain in a platform plagued by protracted crisis and infighting,” said Balarabe, a vocal critic of the PDP’s local leadership.
Abubakar Aliyu described the party as “rudderless,” while Majigiri said, “The PDP has lost its way. The crisis has no cure in sight.”
Present at the chamber were Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina, Muhammad Ali, the APC State Chairman, and several political heavyweights who visibly celebrated the defections, underscoring the significance of the moment.
“A Ripple Becomes a Wave”
Thursday’s shift is part of a broader gale of defections shaking Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber. Since October 2024, at least 20 lawmakers from various opposition parties have crossed over to the APC, steadily bolstering its dominance.
These include
Chris Nkwonta (Abia), Sulaiman Abubakar (Zamfara), Amos Magaji (Kaduna), and Garba Koko (Kebbi) — all former PDP lawmakers who joined the APC.
On March 18, Jallo Mohammed and Adamu Tanko exited the PDP, also citing unresolved disputes.
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On March 27, Clara Nnabuife (Anambra) left the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for APGA, alleging marginalization.
More recently, on Tuesday, six more PDP members joined the APC, while two Labour Party (LP) legislators moved to the PDP:
Obetta Chidi and Dennis Agbo (both Enugu) joined the PDP from LP.
Victor Nwokolo (Delta), Julius Pondi (Burutu), Thomas Ereyitomi (Warri), Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi/Patani), Ukodhiko Jonathan (Isoko), and Ezechi Nnamdi (Ndokwa/Ukwuani) all dumped the PDP for the APC.
Notably, Nicholas Mutu, the longest-serving House member since 1999, signaled the growing momentum behind the ruling party by aligning with its camp.
The continued influx into the APC could reshape legislative calculations, especially on bills, investigations, and oversight. Analysts warn it may signal a “pre-2027 consolidation” as parties prepare for another electoral cycle.
“The APC is not just absorbing members; it’s swallowing opposition visibility,” noted Abuja-based political analyst Dr. Mary Obiekwe.
On the PDP’s end, there is growing pressure for a leadership overhaul, with internal factions demanding reforms or outright resignations of key party officials.
In a statement, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, called the defections “a betrayal of democratic trust” and vowed to explore constitutional remedies. “We will not let opportunists undermine the will of the people who voted on our platform,” he said.
According to Section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they defect to another party without a division in their original party. However, the phrase “internal crisis” is often used to justify defection, a loophole that has gone largely untested in the courts.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to respond to whether any of these seats might be declared vacant or challenged in court.
On the streets of Katsina, reactions are mixed. Aminu Garba, a trader in Danja, expressed disappointment: “We elected them on PDP’s promise. Now they’re switching without asking us.”
But others, like Hajiya Maimuna Abdul, welcomed the move: “It shows they are pragmatic. The PDP is divided and unserious.”
The APC’s gains in the House are not merely numeric. They reflect a coordinated political strategy ahead of the next elections. For the PDP, this is an existential moment: reform or fade. As Governor Dikko Radda beamed during Thursday’s session, the symbolism was clear — Katsina may just be a microcosm of what’s coming.