The member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Joshua Chinedu Obika, has officially defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obika announced his defection in a letter addressed to the House on Wednesday, attributing his decision to the lingering leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party.
In the letter, the lawmaker said the prolonged internal crisis within the party had created deep divisions and multiple factions, making it difficult for the party to function effectively.
“I write with profound respect to formally notify the Honourable House of my decision to defect from the LP to the APC. This decision has become necessary and inevitable due to the prolonged and unresolved leadership crises in the LP, which has resulted in deep divisions and the emergence of multiple factions,” he stated.
Obika explained that several attempts made to resolve the internal disputes within the Labour Party had not yielded any positive results.
According to him, the inability of party leaders to reconcile the feuding groups had weakened the party’s structure and affected its internal democracy.
“Regrettably, all genuine efforts at reconciliation have failed, thereby crippling the party’s capacity to function effectively and democratically,” he said.
The lawmaker also pointed to the recent area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory as an example of how the party’s internal crisis had negatively affected its political operations.
He stated that the party’s failure to upload the names of its candidates on the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led to the disenfranchisement of many of its supporters.
“The impact of this internal crisis was more evident during the recent Area Council elections in the FCT, where the LP candidates were not uploaded on the INEC portal, leading to widespread disenfranchisement of our supporters and members,” Obika explained.
According to the lawmaker, the development significantly undermined confidence in the party’s leadership and organisational structure.
“This unfortunate development has eroded confidence in the party leadership and organisational structure,” he said.
Obika further disclosed that his decision to leave the Labour Party followed sustained pressure from political associates and stakeholders within his constituency.
He said many of them had repeatedly urged him to return to what he described as his political family in the APC.
“This decision is informed by consistent pressure, appeals and demands from our constituency, political associates and stakeholders of the APC who have persistently urged me to return to my political family,” he added.
