The lawmaker representing Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, Amos Magaji, on Tuesday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Magaji in a letter read by the Speaker of the House,
Tajudeen Abbas at the plenary in Abuja lamented the party’s deteriorating conditions.
“The unresolved crises in the PDP from the national to the state level has made it difficult for me to remain in the party,” he stated.
Magaji’s departure marks the third instance of PDP defections to the APC since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, following in the footsteps of Chris Nkwonta and Eriatheke Ibori-Suenu from Abia and Delta States, respectively.
The defection has raised fresh concerns about the PDP’s ability to maintain its ranks amid persistent internal discord.
Notably, the decision has met with sharp criticism from the House’s Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.
He asked the Speaker to declare the Kaduna lawmaker’s seat vacant, citing the constitutional provisions that govern such moves.
“Citing section 68(1g) of the constitution, [Chinda] said members of the house were lawmakers and law breakers, stressing that while the law allow any member to leave the platform on which he was elected, it also spelt out the consequences associated with the action which include losing his seat,” he asserted.
As the PDP continues to grapple with its unresolved crises at both national and state levels, Magaji’s defection and the ensuing constitutional debate highlight the party’s struggle to retain its elected representatives amid a rapidly shifting political landscape.
