The All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged as the major beneficiary of recent defections in the House of Representatives, receiving 21 out of 24 lawmakers who have switched party allegiance since July 2024.
Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, confirmed this development in a statement released to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja.
According to him, the latest round of defections took place during plenary on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when eight lawmakers formally announced their decision to join new political parties. Their letters were read on the floor by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
The most notable shift involved six members of the Minority Caucus from Delta State, all of whom resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling APC — significantly altering the political landscape of the state’s representation in the House.
Leading the group was Rep. Nicholas Mutu (Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency), a seventh-term lawmaker and currently the longest-serving member of the House. He also serves as Leader of the Southern Regional Caucus.
The other defectors from the PDP in Delta State include:
Rep. Julius Pondi (Burutu Federal Constituency)
Rep. Thomas Ereyitomi (Warri Federal Constituency)
Rep. Victor Nwokolo (Ika North East/Ika South)
Rep. Jonathan Ukodhiko (Isoko North/Isoko South)
Rep. Nnamdi Ezechi (Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West/Ukwuani)
With these development, the APC now holds eight of the ten House seats from Delta State, further consolidating its majority and expanding its national influence.
Additionally, two lawmakers from Enugu State—Rep. Chidi Mark Obetta (Nsukka/Igboeze South) and Rep. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu) announced their departure from the Labour Party (LP) to join the PDP. They cited unresolved internal crises and persistent leadership disputes as their reasons for leaving the LP.
Rep. Rotimi noted that since July 2024, a total of 24 defections have been officially documented in the House. The APC has gained the most, welcoming 21 new members. The PDP has lost 13 members, the Labour Party eight, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have each lost one. Notably, there have been no defections from the APC to any other party.
“This ongoing realignment reflects the dynamic nature of Nigeria’s political landscape,” Rotimi stated, “as lawmakers seek platforms that align with their legislative goals and the interests of their constituents.”
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