By Christiana Ekpa
A member of the House of Representatives, Amos Magaji has officially switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, made the announcement of Magaji’s defection in a letter read on the floor of the lower legislative chamber on Tuesday.
Magaji, who represents the Zangon Kataf/Jaba federal constituency in Kaduna state, explained that his decision was driven by the ongoing crisis within the PDP, which he said had made it “impossible” to stay in the party.
In response, Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, rejected the defection, insisting there was no crisis in the PDP.
Chinda also called on Speaker Abbas to declare Magaji’s seat vacant, referencing Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates the circumstances under which a lawmaker may lose their seat.
Abbas responded by advising Chinda to submit an official letter outlining his request.
Magaji’s defection adds to a growing trend, as several lawmakers have recently switched from the PDP and the Labour Party to the APC.
Notable defections include Chris Nkwonta of the PDP, who joined the APC on October 2, Sulaiman Abubakar, who switched on October 30, and four members from the Labour Party and one from the PDP who joined the APC on December 5.
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