As the House of Representatives resumed plenary on Thursday, five Labour Party (LP) lawmakers announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing internal divisions within the Labour Party.
The defectors include:
- Esosa Iyawe (Edo)
- Tochukwu Okere (Imo)
- Donatus Matthew (Kaduna)
- Bassey Akiba (Cross River)
- Daulyop Fom (Plateau)
In addition, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu from Delta State, daughter of former Delta Governor James Ibori, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
The Labour Party, which made a significant breakthrough during the 2023 general elections by securing six Senate seats and over 34 seats in the House of Representatives, has been plagued by internal conflicts. These challenges have weakened the party’s potential to establish a strong opposition alongside the PDP against the ruling APC.
The LP’s performance in 2023 marked a stark contrast to its previous outing in 2019 when it failed to secure any seats in the National Assembly. However, the post-election internal strife appears to be impacting the party's cohesion and momentum.
The defections underscore the challenges facing Nigeria's opposition parties in maintaining unity and political influence in the face of a dominant APC.
