Six lawmakers in the House of Representatives yesterday defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to four other political parties, as the lawmakers resumed plenary after a five-week recess, thus making the All Progressives Congress (APC) to become the majority party in the lower parliament.

The lawmakers defected to APC and the Labour Party, which gained two members each, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Accord, which gained a member each.

The plenary of the day started after exchange of pleasantries. No sooner than the day’s proceedings began than the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, announced notices of defection from six members of PDP to four other parties.

The defected lawmakers are Robinson Uwak from Akwa Ibom, Mohammed Ibrahim from Jigawa, Tobias Okwurio Chukwuemeka and Peter Ali, both from Ebonyi State, Akpan Umoh from Akwa Ibom and Chinenye Eke from Abia State.

Robinson Uwak and Mohammed Ibrahim defected to the APC, Tobias Okwurio Chukwuemeka and Peter Ali moved to Labour Party, Akpan Umoh defected to Accord Party while Chinenye Eke defected to APGA.

The development brought the number of APC Reps members to 181 against 156 which the ruling PDP has been reduced to.

Other parties in the house now share 23 seats, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) occupying 10, Labour Party five, APGA four, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) two, and Accord Party two seats.

After the defection, the Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu, under the order of privilege, requested that the House should implement some immediate changes to the leadership of the House. Tambuwal, however, interrupted him, stressing that an existing court case halting such a move must be respected.

Earlier in his address of welcome, Tambuwal had reminded the lawmakers of the crucial tasks before them which ought to be concluded before the dissolution of the Seventh Assembly.

Some of the tasks he mentioned are the 2015 Appropriation Bill, the Constitution Amendment Bill and the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which he said must be expedited.

The House adopted the fourth alteration of the Constitution Bill 2014, after the presentation of the report on the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly on the amendment to the 1999 constitution and a motion raised by Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha and 52 other members.

The House resolved to pass the bill and transmit to the Presidency for assent as soon as possible.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows the House of Reps in session.

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