Following the resumption of Plenary in the House of Representatives on Thursday, four lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors include Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), and Bassey Akiba (Cross River).
Additionally, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta) left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC.
The former Labour Party legislators attributed their decision to the persistent internal divisions within their party, which they claim have hindered effective governance and representation.
The Labour Party, established over two decades ago as a pro-worker political platform, made significant strides in the 2023 elections, securing six Senate seats and over 34 House of Representatives seats, a marked improvement from the 2019 National Assembly elections, where it won no seats.
However, despite the party’s remarkable performance in the 2023 elections and the third-place finish of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, internal conflicts have plagued the LP post-election, undermining its potential as a strong opposition alongside the PDP against the ruling APC.
The recent defections highlight ongoing challenges within the Labour Party, raising questions about its ability to sustain its newfound political relevance in the face of internal discord.
