The five members had their letters of defection read on the floor of the chamber by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary.
Those who defected include Hon. Inuwa Garba and Hon. Abdullahi El-Rasheed from Gombe State; Hon. Adewale Adebayo from Osun State; Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory; and Hon. Mohammed Audu from Taraba State.
In his letter, Hon. Garba, Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Engineering, announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party to join the All Progressives Congress.
He said the decision followed “sincere reflection and wide consultation,” noting that persistent internal challenges within the party had made it difficult for him to effectively pursue the aspirations of his constituents.
Also defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress was Hon. Abdullahi El-Rasheed, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on FCT Area Councils.
El-Rasheed said his decision was taken after a careful and objective assessment of the internal crisis within the PDP, which he said had weakened party cohesion and limited its ability to effectively serve the people.
According to him, the move was also informed by the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Similarly, Hon. Mohammed Audu of Taraba State announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party and his defection to the All Progressives Congress with immediate effect.
He cited the ongoing internal crisis and divisions within the PDP, which he said had adversely affected his ability to effectively deliver on his mandate.
Meanwhile, Hon. Adewale Adebayo, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party.
Adebayo said his decision followed consultations and careful consideration, noting that while he still holds deep respect for the PDP, the Accord Party currently aligns more closely with the aspirations and development needs of his constituents.
Also announcing a change of party was Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation, who defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress.
In his letter, Obika attributed his decision to what he described as a prolonged and unresolved leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which he said had resulted in deep divisions and the emergence of multiple factions.
He added that the situation had crippled the party’s capacity to function effectively, prompting his decision to join the APC and support the party in future elections. Nation