The trend of defections in the National Assembly has continued as Garba Koko, a member of the House of Representatives, officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His defection was confirmed on Wednesday when Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read his resignation letter on the floor of the House.
Koko, who represents the Besse/Maiyama Yema Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, cited the prolonged internal crisis within the PDP as his reason for leaving.
He pointed to unresolved leadership struggles within the party, including recent disputes over the authentic national secretary.
However, his claims were immediately challenged by the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, who refuted the existence of any prolonged crisis within the PDP.
Chinda argued that internal disagreements are common in all political parties, including the APC and Labour Party, and should not be used as a justification for defection.
Citing Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a lawmaker must forfeit their seat if they switch parties without evidence of a deep-seated division, Chinda urged the Speaker to declare Koko’s seat vacant.
He warned that allowing such defections without consequences would set a dangerous precedent.
In response, Speaker Abbas dismissed the request, stating that only a court of law has the authority to declare a legislator’s seat vacant.
Koko’s defection comes just a day after Amos Magaji, another PDP lawmaker from Kaduna State, also joined the APC. In recent months, several other lawmakers have switched parties.
On October 2, Chris Nkwonta, representing Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in Abia State, moved from PDP to APC. On October 30, Sulaiman Abubakar, representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, also defected to the APC.
On December 5, four Labour Party lawmakers and one PDP legislator similarly left their parties to join the APC.
