The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This development comes as six lawmakers from Oyo State also left the PDP for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Defections Announced in Plenary
The defections were announced on Tuesday during plenary by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. He read 13 letters of defection from lawmakers across different political parties at the first sitting of the House after the Sallah break.
The six Oyo lawmakers who moved to the APM are Anthony Adebayo, Adedeji Olajide, Sunday Makanjuola, Oyedeji Oyeshina, Fola Oyekunle, and Adigun Adekunle.
Reasons for Leaving PDP
In their separate letters, the lawmakers attributed their decision to lingering internal crisis and leadership struggles within the PDP. They said these issues had weakened party unity and affected effective political coordination ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With this development, six of the 14 members of the Oyo State House of Representatives caucus have now aligned with the APM.
Chinda's Defection and Resignation
Chinda's defection was contained in a letter dated April 23, 2026, and was read on the floor of the House. It was followed by his resignation as Minority Leader.
The Rivers lawmaker, a known ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, recently emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections. This followed the withdrawal of key aspirants from the race.
Other Party Movements
The House also witnessed additional movements across party lines. In Bauchi State, Auwalu Gwalabe defected from the PDP to the APM. Meanwhile, Shehu Dalhatu, representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency of Katsina State, left the APC for the PDP.
Dalhatu said his decision followed consultations with his constituents and a review of developments within the APC. In Delta State, Etanabene Benedict moved from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, citing internal crisis in the opposition party.
The PDP also gained Alex Egbona, who defected from the APC, while insisting that his legislative duties and constituency responsibilities remain unchanged.
In Edo State, Esosa Iyawe again switched party allegiance, leaving the APC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), citing irreconcilable differences with the state chapter of the party.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa lawmaker Gbefwi Gaza defected from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the Labour Party.
