Defections lift PDP to majority party status in House of Reps

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives, on Thursday, regained its majority position in the House following the defection of a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Nassarawa State, Honourable David Ombugadu, to the PDP.

From available records, the PDP now has 174 members as against APC with 172 members.

A member of APC from Nassarawa State, Honourable Joseph Kigbu Haruna, had, on Tuesday, defected to PDP.

The Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, at the plenary session on Thursday, read a letter from Honourable Ombugadu, quoting the lawmaker as saying that he decided to dump the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which had now merged with APC for PDP, after due consultation with his constituents.

The defection of the lawmaker resulted in jubilation among PDP members, as they accompanied him to the PDP leaders for introduction.

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Victor Ogene, while responding to questions from newsmen during the weekly briefing, said that it was too early to give any political party in the House a clear majority, saying that 'it (the defection) is an ongoing process.' - Nigerian Tribune.