PDP Lawmaker Defects To APC

A member of the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta, has withdrawn his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pledged his allegiance to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Naija News reports that Nkwonta’s defection was confirmed on the floor of the House during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas on Wednesday in Abuja.

Nkwonta is representing Ukwa East/West of Abia State.

Reacting to the defection, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki referenced a section of the constitution and called for Nkwonta’s seat to be declared vacant.

However, Reps Speaker Tajdeen told Madaki that he was aware of a faction in PDP.

Meanwhile, a former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will take over power from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2027.

Naija News reports that Ortom stated this during a courtesy visit from members of G14 at his Makurdi residence located at Judges Quarters along Gboko Road.

He charged the group to work harder to ensure that the party in the state bounced back stronger.

The former governor appealed to the members to put behind them the crisis that denied the party victory in the 2023 election in the state.

The G14 comprises elders of the PDP from the 14 local government areas of Tiv extraction.

When he received the group at his residence on Tuesday, Ortom, who assumed the role of co-chairman of the group, said that no one had the power to disband the group.

Ortom said, “As the leader of the party in the state, I will continue to support the group, and let me emphasise that no one has a right to disband this group.

“I encourage you to work and be conscience of the party. Let us put behind us the past grievances. This is the time you have to work harder than before and bring back some of those who want to join us.

“I know that many people are yearning to return to the party, let us begin a new journey, and with God’s on our side, we will get the power back to our party in 2027.”