The ruling All Progressives Congress gained five members from the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
The lawmakers who lost left LP to APC are Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
Confirming the development, Matthew, who represents Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, said the decision to defect to the APC is based on conviction.
Asked if his imminent defection has the backing of his constituency, Matthew, who made history when he won the parliamentary election in 2023 as a commercial motorcycle rider, said, “You cannot just work on the decisions of the people at the constituency level because you are dealing with people with different levels of understanding.
“I am taking this decision based on conviction. That is why, whether you like it or not, there are people within the constituency who are convinced that it (defection) is the right decision for them. There are those who are skeptical waiting for the outcome,” he said.
Their letter of defection to the APC was read on the Green Chamber floor by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday.
