The entire Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending the dominance of the opposition in the state’s federal representation.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defection on Thursday during plenary after reading letters of resignation submitted by the lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was present at the event, which marked a major political shift in the state’s representation at the National Assembly.
Explaining their decision, the defectors said they left their former parties due to “unresolved internal crises” that had weakened the opposition and threatened its stability.
Following the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party won seven of the eight House of Representatives seats in Enugu State, while the PDP secured one. With the latest development, the APC now controls all eight seats.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, Nnolim Nnaji, who represents Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency and served as spokesman for the group, said their move was motivated by a desire to support Governor Mbah’s “project-driven” administration and connect Enugu to the “centre of national progress.”
He said, “Our decision is a bold step into the future — a move born of courage and clarity. For too long, Enugu State has remained in opposition, watching from the sidelines. That era is over. We want to be active participants in shaping Nigeria’s development.”
Nnaji added that aligning with the APC would help bring “more projects, jobs, and empowerment opportunities” to the people of Enugu State.
The defectors include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, Nnolim Nnaji, and Mark Obetta.
In a related development, Daniel Asama, representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, also announced his defection from the Labour Party to the APC.