The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has now emerged the majority party in the House of Representatives having welcomed additional 37 members to its fold.
At plenary on Wednesday, a letter was read formally informing the House that 37 members elected under the umbrella of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decamped to the opposition APC.
The decampees, whose names were not mentioned, said their action was in line with the provision of Section 68, Sub-section 1G of the nation’s constitution.
Also, the lawmakers informed their colleagues and the leadership of the House that they decided to dump the PDP for APC because of “division and factionalisation” within the ruling party.
With the defection of these members, the rank of the APC swelled to 172 thus, making it the majority party in the Lower Chamber.
Other breakdown shows that the ruling party, PDP is now left with 168 members, Labour Party (LP) – 10, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)- 5, Accord Party -4 and the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP)- 1.
Meanwhile, basking in te euphoria of ist new status in the Green Chamber, the leadership of the APC intensified effort to woo some key members of the PDP into its fold.
The Interim National Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande Wednesday led other key members of the opposition party to the residence of a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in Asokoro, Abuja.
At the meeting, the APC leaders were said to have spoken to hi on the need to join the APC.
However, Atiku was said to have told his ‘August’ visitors that he would need to consult with his political associates before taking a decision.
He was said to have assured that he would get back to them before the end of the year. It will be recalled that Atiku led seven governors out of the special convention of the PDP held at Eagles Square in August.
They later former a splinter group christened ‘New PDP’ that hasnow merged with the APC. Five of the seven governors- Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) are now in APC.
It is thus believed that Atiku is only marking time before he finally declares for the opposition APC.
