The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) now has a two-thirds majority in the membership of the 10th House of Representatives following Thursday’s defections of an additional five lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one lawmaker from the Labour Party (LP).
With the latest defections, the membership of the APC now stands at 243, while the PDP has been depleted to 74.
The Labour Party has 21; the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – 15; APGA – five; ADC – one; SDP – two; and YPP – one.
The two-thirds majority of the 360-member House of Representatives is 240.
At the inception of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, the membership of the House of Representatives comprised APC – 175; PDP – 118; LP – 35; NNPP – 19; APGA – 5; ADC – 2; SDP – 2; and YPP – 1, while three seats were vacant at the start. Cumulatively, the opposition parties had 182 members, which was higher than the ruling party’s 175 at the time.
However, the gale of defections in the House of Representatives has continued to deplete the ranks of the opposition political parties as members realign to position themselves for re-election in 2027.
With the APC having a two-thirds majority, the ruling party can take overriding decisions and pass resolutions even without the input of members of the opposition political parties, given their current strength.
The five Enugu lawmakers who defected include: Hon. Nnolim John Nnaji (Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency), Rep. Anayo Onwuegbu (Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency), Rep. Oke Martins (Igbo Etiti/Uzo Uwani Federal Constituency), Rep. Obetta Mark Chidiebere (Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency), and Hon. Dennis Nnamdi Agbo (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency).
They were joined by Hon. Daniel Asama, who represents Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in Plateau State, also announcing his defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC during plenary.
The lawmakers pledged to support Governor Mbah, whom they described as a visionary leader whose developmental strides in education, aviation, technology, and security have turned Enugu into a reference point for good governance.
They added that their defection would connect their constituency to the heartbeat of national development, bringing more projects, jobs, and infrastructure to the people.
They said: ‘For too long, our dear Enugu State has remained in opposition, watching from the sidelines as others shaped the destiny of our nation and accessed opportunities that could have transformed our people’s lives. That era is over! We refuse to remain spectators when we can be key players in Nigeria’s progress.
‘By aligning with the APC – the party steering national transformation – we are connecting our constituency to the heartbeat of national development. This alignment will bring more projects, more jobs, better infrastructure, and greater empowerment for our youths, women, and communities.
‘This decision wasn’t made on impulse. It comes from deep reflection and a burning desire to see our people rise above limits and take their rightful place in the national spotlight.
‘We salute our Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for his courage, foresight, and leadership. He has shown us that true progress demands bold choices.’
Hon. Nnaji said the lawmakers had decided to team up with the governor, who he said, through his transformational leadership, had changed the face of Enugu State in just two years.
According to him, through Governor Mbah, Enugu State has become the reference point for good leadership.
‘We, therefore, commend Governor Mbah for his developmental exploits in education, aviation, science and information technology, and indeed all areas of human endeavour. Today, there is security of lives and property, and investors are flooding into Enugu State to take advantage of the fertile environment provided by Governor Mbah.
‘Together with him, we are saying yes to a new chapter of unity, opportunity, and growth for Enugu State.
‘To our brothers and sisters who have walked this journey with us – thank you. To our colleagues and supporters across party lines – let us unite in purpose. Politics should never divide us; it should empower us to serve our people better.
‘As your representatives, we remain your voice, your advocate, and your servant in the National Assembly. We will continue to defend your interests, attract development, and ensure that every corner of Enugu State feels the impact of good governance.
‘Today, we open the gates of a new dawn – a dawn of hope, inclusion, and prosperity. A dawn where Enugu State takes her rightful place in the story of Nigeria’s progress. Let us rise together, believe together, and build together – for the best days of our people are not behind us; they are just beginning.’
The five lawmakers, who joined three of their Enugu colleagues that had earlier defected to the APC, announced their defection in separate letters, which were read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.