All Enugu Reps Dump PDP, Labour For APC

In a political realignment that has redrawn Enugu State’s representation at the federal level, all members of the House of Representatives from the state have formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The announcement, which came during Thursday’s plenary session, was made by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who read letters of resignation from the defecting lawmakers — all of whom previously belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).

The event was graced by the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, whose developmental strides were cited as a major influence behind the lawmakers’ defection.

Addressing journalists shortly after the announcement, the spokesman for the defectors and member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, said their decision was borne out of “a burning desire to reposition Enugu State and align it with the centre of national development.”

“Come to Enugu and see what Governor Mbah is doing — roads, infrastructure, youth empowerment, and investments. We cannot stand aside while progress happens. This move is about connecting our people to the heartbeat of Nigeria’s development,” Nnaji declared.

He added that their defection was neither hasty nor opportunistic but a “strategic step into a new era of political inclusivity and growth.”

“For too long, Enugu has been in opposition, watching from the sidelines as others shaped Nigeria’s destiny. That era has ended. We want to be part of the team driving national transformation under the APC-led administration,” he stated.

Prior to this defection, the Labour Party controlled seven out of the eight House seats in Enugu, with the PDP holding one. With Thursday’s development, the APC now holds all eight seats, effectively bringing Enugu’s federal caucus under its banner for the first time in the state’s political history.

The lawmakers who defected include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, Nnolim Nnaji, and Mark Obetta, among others.

In a related twist, Hon. Daniel Asama, representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, also announced his resignation from the Labour Party to join the APC, further swelling the ruling party’s ranks in the Green Chamber.

Political observers describe the wave of defections as a “strategic consolidation” of the APC’s influence in the South-East, a region where the party has historically struggled to gain a foothold.

Governor Mbah, reacting briefly after the plenary, reportedly welcomed the lawmakers’ decision, calling it “a timely move that will fast-track the integration of Enugu into the national development agenda.”