The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost one of its House of Representatives members, Chris Nkwonta, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, October 2.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who announced the defection, gave no specific reason but mentioned that the House Leaders instructed him to do so.

The announcement was met with loud applause from APC members who welcomed Nkwonta to their ranks.

However, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) raised a point of order, requesting Nkwonta’s seat be declared vacant based on Section 58 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

He argued that the section only allows a member to leave their party if there is a crisis, and PDP currently faces no such issues.

Speaker Abbas ruled him out of order, stating, “information available to me indicates that there is a faction in the PDP.”

Nkwonta was subsequently appointed Chairman of the newly formed House Committee on South East Development Commission, with Sunday Nnamchi from Enugu as his deputy.

Additionally, Speaker Abbas announced several new committee appointments in a minor reshuffle. Timehin Adelegbe (APC, Ondo) was named Chairman of the Committee on Science Research Institutions, Kabiru Ahmadi now heads the Committee on Sports, Abubakar Gummi takes charge of the North East Development Commission, and Name Nkemkanma leads the Committee on Climate Change and Security.

Other chairmen include Mohammed Mukthar (Tourism), Zakariya Idris (Safety Standards), and Anayo Onwuegbu (Lake Chad).