Sulaiman Abubakar, a member of the House of Representatives, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House, announced Abubakar’s defection in a letter read on the floor of the lower legislative chamber on Wednesday.
Abubakar represents the Gummi/Bukkuyum federal constituency in Zamfara State.
In his letter, the legislator cited the “lingering and unresolved internal and external crises” within the PDP as his reason for the switch.
He noted that his constituency is represented by two PDP chairmen: “One was unconstitutionally removed, while the other decamped with me,” he wrote.
“This fragmentation has left the party without a cohesive structure in my constituency, making it impossible for me to effectively represent my constituents and deliver the promised dividends of democracy.”
Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader of the House, protested the defection by raising a point of order.
He argued that section 68 of the Constitution permits lawmakers to leave the party that sponsored their election if that party is in crisis.
However, the Speaker dismissed his point of order.
Abubakar is the second lawmaker to switch from the PDP to the APC this month.
On October 2, Chris Nkwonta, who represents the Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency in Abia State, also left the PDP for the APC.
