Aftermath of Reps’ defection: APC now 175, PDP 171 [See full list of decampees]

History was made yesterday as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, moved down to second on the list of parties with members in Nigeria’s lower legislative chamber since the country returned to democracy in 1999.

Reacall that 37 members of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday announced their defection from the ruling party to the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC.

With the development, the APC now leads the House with 175 members, PDP has 171, while the Labour Party, Democratic Peoples Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance and Accord Party share the remaining 14. .
The APC is however only one seat short of a simple majority (181) to take over leadership.


The names of the defecting lawmakers were read out by the speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, after which each of the defectors shook hands with him.
The members made the not unexpected move, about two weeks after five state governors – Chibuike Amaechi, Rivers; Aliyu Wammako, Sokoto; Murtala Nyako, Adamawa; Abdulfatah Ahmed, Kwara; and Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano – dumped the PDP for the APC.

A breakdown shows that 11 of the now APC lawmakers are from Kano state, 10 are from Sokoto state, 8 from Rivers state, 6 from Kwara state, and one from Katsina and Bauchi states respectively.
The defecting members in their letter, cited division in the ruling PDP as the reason for the development. They held that provisions of Section 68 (1g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) backs their action.

Below is full list of those who decamped:
Abdulahi Balarabe (Sokoto)
Abudulmumin Jibrin (Kano)
Ali Ahmad (Kwara)
Abudulahi Wamako (Sokoto)
Aliyu Pategi (Kwara)
Ahmed Zerewa, Aishatu Ahmed (Adamawa)
Aiyedun Olayinka (Kwara)
Alhassan Garba (Kano)
Aliyu Madaki (Kano)
Aliyu Shehu (Sokoto)
Aminu Shagari (Sokoto).
Aminu Suleiman (Kano)
Aminu Tukur (Adamawa)
Andrew Uchendu (Rivers)
Asita Honourable (Rivers)
Bashir Babale (Kano)
Blessing Usiegbe (Rivers)
Dakuku Peterside (Rivers)
Dawari George (Rivers)
Gibson Nathaniel (Adamawa)
Gogo Bright Tamuno (Rivers)
Isa Bashir (Sokoto)
Kabiru Achida (Sokoto)
Maurice Pronen (Rivers)
Sabo Mohammed, Mpigi Barinada (Rivers)
Mukhtari Muhammad, Musa Ado (Kano)
Musa Sarkin-Adar (Sokoto)
Mustapha Dawaki (Kano)
Mustapha Mashood (Kwara)
Ogbonna Nwuke (Rivers)
Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara)
Sa’ad Nabunkari (Sokoto)
Sani Aliyu (Kano)
Shuaibu Gobir (Sokoto)
Sokonte Davies (Rivers)
Umar Bature (Sokoto)
Yusuph Dunari Sule (Jigawa)
Zakari Mohammed (Kwara).
Source: Dailypost