How internal crisis led NNPP lawmakers in Nasarawa to defect to APC

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has lost its two lawmakers in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the span of a month due to ongoing internal crises within the party at the national level.

Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, representing Toto/Gadabuke Constituency, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, representing Doma South Constituency, cited division in the NNPP, including two party logos and multiple court cases, as the primary reasons for their defection to the APC.

While Isimbabi had earlier announced his defection from the party on August 21, Ibrahim joined him last week.

With these defections, the APC’s representation in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has increased from 10 to 12 members. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now holds nine seats, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has three lawmakers remaining.

In response to the defections, the NNPP’s state chapter constituted a five-member committee to investigate the reasons behind the lawmakers’ departures.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Isimbabi noted that the committee found his defection justified.

He explained: “The division within my party at the national level and the numerous pending court cases left me no option but to leave NNPP for the APC.” His defection followed that of Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, who left last month.

The committee’s report, submitted on September 21, stated: “A division that justifies defection is one that directly affects the person’s membership or makes the political party impracticable to function. We find that this division exists at the national level of the NNPP, and therefore, the defection is justified.”