Two federal lawmakers from Bauchi and Benue, including Senator David Mark’s daughter, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Rep Yakubu Abdullahi of Bauchi left the People’s Redemption Party and Mark’s daughter Blessing Onuh, of Benue, moved from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Their defections were announced in separate letters read out during plenary on Tuesday.
In his letter, Abdullahi said he left PRP because of the crisis that led to the emergence of two national chairmen -Falalu Bello and Sule Bello – as well as two state chairmen in Bauchi.
According to him, a faction of the party in Bauchi had written a letter suspending him, adding that the crisis is being aggravated by several litigations.
Onu, in her letter, said she joined APC since December 2020 and had organised an event which heralded her defection from APGA to the ruling party.
She noted that APGA has been enmeshed in leadership crisis at various levels, which she said has affected the cohesion and made members disenchanted, hence her decision leave the party.
Five members of the opposition caucus from the PDP, APGA as well as Labour party have defected and joined the ruling APC in recent times.
The former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, has also defected from the PDP to the APC.
However, leadership of the opposition caucus led by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) has opposed the defection on many instances, calling on the Speaker to declare the seats of the defectors vacant.
