A leading political figure and Rivers State All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) governorship candidate for 2027, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has emerged as the most prominent name among 13 members of the House of Representatives who defected from their political parties on Tuesday.
Chinda, who previously served as Minority Leader of the House, left the Peoples Democratic Party (Peoples Democratic Party) for the APC. His defection led to his immediate resignation as Minority Leader, setting the stage for a new opposition leadership in the House.
The defections, announced on the floor of the House, also included six lawmakers from Oyo State who moved from the PDP to the Allied Peoples Movement (Allied Peoples Movement), alongside other legislators who crossed party lines in a broader political realignment.
Full List of Defecting Lawmakers
- Hon. Kingsley Chinda — PDP to APC
- Hon. Anthony Adebayo — PDP to APM
- Hon. Adedeji Olajide — PDP to APM
- Hon. Sunday Makanjuola — PDP to APM
- Hon. Oyedeji Oyeshina — PDP to APM
- Hon. Fola Oyekunle — PDP to APM
- Hon. Adigun Adekunle — PDP to APM
- Hon. Auwalu Gwalabe — PDP to APC
- Hon. Shehu Dalhatu — APC to PDP
- Hon. Etanabene Benedict — Labour Party to PDP
- Hon. Alex Egbona — APC to PDP
- Hon. Esosa Iyawe — APC to Nigeria Democratic Congress (Nigeria Democratic Congress)
- Hon. Gbefwi Gaza — Social Democratic Party (Social Democratic Party) to Labour Party (Labour Party)
The latest defections underscore ongoing political shifts within the National Assembly as lawmakers realign ahead of future electoral contests.
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