Mass Defection Rocks Taraba State Assembly
In a dramatic political development, all sixteen members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Taraba State House of Assembly have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The mass defection occurred during Monday's plenary session, less than twenty-four hours before Governor Agbu Kefas is expected to make a similar move to the ruling party.
Constitutional Basis for Defection
Speaker John Kizito Bonzina announced the resignations during the parliamentary session, reading aloud the letters submitted by each lawmaker. The defections were justified under Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution, which permits legislators to switch parties when there is a division within their political organization.
In their resignation letters, the lawmakers pointed to what they described as a persistent leadership crisis within the PDP at the national level. They claimed the existence of two competing factions had created confusion throughout the party structure, making their continued membership unsustainable.
Lawmakers Explain Their Decision
Speaking with journalists after the plenary session, several defecting lawmakers elaborated on their reasons for abandoning the PDP. Jethro Yakubu, who represents Wukari I constituency, expressed concern that the internal crisis threatening the PDP "has the potential to expunge the party from the country."
Musa Chul of Gassol I and Nelson Len of Nguroje constituency echoed similar sentiments, stating that remaining with the PDP would jeopardize their political futures. They emphasized that they had consulted extensively with their constituents before making the decision to join the APC along with their supporters.
The defectors argued that the unresolved internal conflicts that once strengthened the PDP had now significantly weakened the party's standing and effectiveness.
Complete Political Transformation
This mass defection marks a fundamental shift in Taraba State's political landscape. The 24-member State House of Assembly is now composed entirely of APC lawmakers, creating a unified legislative body aligned with the expected political affiliation of the executive branch.
Former Speaker Abel Peter Diah, a longstanding APC member who currently represents Mbamnga constituency, welcomed the defectors. He commended their decision to join the ruling party and praised both the Speaker and the newly defected lawmakers for aligning with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Diah expressed confidence that the state would benefit significantly from improved relations with the federal government.
National Concerns About Defection Trend
The political realignment in Taraba occurs against a backdrop of growing concern about defections to the ruling party at the national level. Former Senate leader Ali Ndume has raised alarms about the increasing wave of governors and federal lawmakers crossing from opposition parties to the APC.
Ndume warned that the APC risked internal collapse if this trend continues unchecked. The prominent lawmaker dismissed many of the recent defectors as "political lightweights" with minimal value to contribute to the governing party. He insisted that the APC is becoming "overloaded" with "mostly empty cargo," suggesting quality was being sacrificed for quantity in the party's expansion.
The timing of these defections, coming just before Governor Kefas's anticipated move to the APC, suggests a coordinated political strategy to consolidate power in Taraba State under the ruling party's banner.
