11th February, 2014
Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP slim majority in the House of Representatives, increased today with the defection of five members from the opposition All Progressives Congress
The defecting representatives are Lawal Shehu Bichi (Kano), Abdulsalam Adamu (Kano), Sani Umar (Zamfara) and Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (Zamfara). Rep Umar Bature from Sokoto, one of the defectors was one of the 37 members that dumped the PDP for the opposition APC on December 18, 2013.
It was gathered that the two representatives from Kano are loyalists of a former governor of the state, Ibrahim Shekarau, who recently defected to the PDP.
With the defection of the five lawmakers, PDP now has 178 members in the House as against APC’s 168.
Before the defection of the five members, the majority status of the PDP was slim at 174 to APC’s 172.
The announcement of the defection by the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was met with wild jubilation by PDP members of the House who kept shouting “PDP, power! APC shame!”.
Members of PDP also went round to excitedly congratulate Mulikat Akande, the majority leader of the House whose position has been under threat as a result of the growing strength of APC in the House,
The obviously excited PDP members also continuously booed the Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila.
Meanwhile, PDP also lost one lawmaker from Kaduna state, Isa Mohammed Ashiru, to the opposition APC.
Meanwhile, another senator, Uzamere Ehigie, Tuesday announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement made available to journalists, the Senator representing Edo south said he was defecting to the ruling party because APC is being run by a ‘sole administrator’.