Four Reps Members Dump Labour Party for APC
On Thursday, as plenary resumed at the House of Representatives, four lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors are Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), and Bassey Akiba (Cross River). Additionally, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta), who was elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also joined the APC.
The lawmakers cited internal divisions within the Labour Party as the main reason for their defection. These defections follow a period of turmoil within the LP, which, after making significant strides in the 2023 elections—winning six Senate seats and over 34 House of Representatives seats—has been plagued by squabbles and discontent.
Labour Party had a remarkable rise in the 2023 elections, particularly with its presidential candidate Peter Obi securing third place. The party was seen as a formidable opposition to the ruling APC, alongside the PDP. However, internal conflicts after the elections seem to have hindered its potential, contributing to the recent defections.
These moves mark another shift in Nigerian politics as the APC consolidates further influence in the House.
