APC 3 members short of two-thirds majority at Reps
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives is now three members short of attaining a two-thirds majority following the defection of Hon. Ojema Ojotu, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Benue State, to the ruling party. Daily Trust reports that the development comes barely a week after the ruling party secured […]
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives is now three members short of attaining a two-thirds majority following the defection of Hon. Ojema Ojotu, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Benue State, to the ruling party.
Daily Trust reports that the development comes barely a week after the ruling party secured a two-thirds majority in the Senate. It also followed the defection of three PDP members from Kaduna State to the APC in the House of Representatives last week.
With Ojotu’s defection, the APC’s membership in the Green Chamber has risen to 237, while the PDP’s strength has dropped to 79. Other parties now stand as follows: Labour Party (LP) 22; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 15; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 5; African Democratic Congress (ADC) 1; Social Democratic Party (SDP) 2; and Young Progressives Party (YPP) 1.
The APC therefore needs just three additional members to reach the 240 required for a two-thirds majority.
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Political observers predict that with the recent defection of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to the ruling party, more lawmakers from the state may follow suit, further boosting APC’s numbers.
At the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, the House composition was: APC 175; PDP 118; LP 35; NNPP 19; APGA 5; ADC 2; SDP 2; and YPP 1, with three vacant seats. At the time, the opposition bloc collectively held a majority of 182 members against the APC’s 175.
In a letter read during plenary by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Ojotu cited persistent internal crises and unresolved leadership disputes within the PDP as his reason for leaving the party.
“This decision has become necessary due to the persistent internal crisis, unresolved leadership tussle, and deep divisions within the party from the national to the federal constituency level,” Ojotu wrote.
“After wide consultations with my family, stakeholders, and constituents, I have decided to align with the APC, a platform I believe offers a more stable and progressive environment for service and national development.”
However, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) objected to the defection and called for Ojotu’s seat to be declared vacant in accordance with Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the loss of a seat if a lawmaker defects without a recognised division in their party.
His objection was countered by Deputy Leader Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (APC, Kogi), who argued that the constitution allows lawmakers to leave their parties if there is an irreconcilable crisis within them.
“Where such a crisis exists, the member is free to leave that party to safeguard his political future,” Halims maintained.