The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday gained a two-third majority in the House of Representatives following the defection of all six lawmakers from Enugu State and one from Plateau State to the ruling party.
The mass defection was announced during plenary by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who read the lawmakers’ letters of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
Those who defected include Nnolim Nnaji, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, Mark Obetta, and Martins Oke—all representing various constituencies in Enugu State—as well as Daniel Asama from Plateau State and Matthew Nwogu from Imo State.
The development marks a major political shift, as the APC now controls the entire Enugu caucus in the House of Representatives and holds 242 out of the 360 seats, giving it a comfortable two-third majority.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and former Minister of Defence, Fidelia Njeze, were among those who witnessed the event at the National Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Nnolim Nnaji, who represents Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, said the decision was influenced by the desire to align with the “project-oriented” leadership of Governor Mbah and to connect Enugu to the centre of national development.
He said, “Just come to Enugu and see what is happening there. The governor is doing a lot for our people. We also want to bring our state to the centre. This is not just a political move — it is a bold step into the future, borne out of courage, clarity, and determination to reposition Nkanu East and West for greatness.
“For too long, Enugu has remained in opposition, watching from the sidelines as others shaped the destiny of our nation. That era is over. By aligning with the APC — the party steering national transformation — we are connecting our constituency to the heartbeat of national development.”
The defectors cited unresolved internal crises within the PDP and Labour Party as part of the reasons for leaving their former political platforms.
With this latest development, analysts say the APC’s dominance in the lower chamber could further strengthen its legislative agenda and enhance coordination with the executive arm of government.