Abia PDP Federal Lawmaker Defects to APC

Chris Nkwonta, a member of the House of Representatives from Abia State, has officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Nkwonta, who represents the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency, announced his defection on Wednesday during a House session.

The defection was confirmed through a letter read aloud by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on the floor of the House. However, Nkwonta’s move did not go unchallenged, as Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki quickly raised objections, referencing Order 68 of the 1999 Constitution. According to Madaki, lawmakers can only abandon their party mid-term if there is an internal crisis within the party that sponsored their election.

Despite the protest, Speaker Tajudeen dismissed Madaki’s point of order, asserting that there is indeed a factional crisis within the PDP. His ruling was met with applause from APC members in the House, further fueling speculation about the growing internal challenges within the PDP.