Labour Party Faces Deepening Turmoil as Another House of Reps Member Joins APC Amid Leadership Row

 

Chimaobi Atu, a sitting member of the House of Representatives, has officially abandoned the Labour Party (LP) and taken up membership in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a fresh twist in Nigeria’s fluid political landscape. Representing the Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Atu made his move public during a plenary session held on Wednesday, June 26, drawing both surprise and sharp criticism from fellow lawmakers.

The formal announcement of his defection came through a letter read by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas. In that letter, Atu blamed the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party for his decision, describing it as a major obstacle to his legislative performance. According to him, internal divisions and what he referred to as a lack of clear direction had rendered him ineffective in his duties as a representative of his constituents.

The development sparked a heated moment during the plenary when Ali Isa, the Minority Whip of the House, rose to challenge the defection. Citing constitutional grounds and parliamentary precedent, Isa argued that Atu’s seat should be declared vacant since he no longer belonged to the party under which he was elected. However, despite acknowledging Isa’s point of order, Speaker Abbas refrained from making a ruling on the matter, leaving the issue unresolved for now.

Observers see Atu’s exit as part of a growing wave of political realignments that could have significant implications for the balance of power in the National Assembly. Only a day prior, two other lawmakers, Peter Akpanke from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing the Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara constituency in Cross River State, and Paul Nnamchi of the Labour Party, representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo, also switched allegiance to the APC. These consecutive defections suggest a calculated and possibly coordinated effort by the APC to bolster its legislative strength ahead of future political battles.

Many political analysts have linked the recent wave of defections to growing dissatisfaction with internal party dynamics, particularly within the LP. Since its significant rise during the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party has been battling internal rifts, factional leadership claims, and strategic disunity, all of which have weakened its cohesion both at the national and state levels. For lawmakers like Atu, the instability appears to have reached a breaking point.

Constituents and stakeholders from Enugu have started reacting to the news, with opinions sharply divided. Some believe Atu’s decision to leave the LP may provide him with a stronger platform to push for federal attention and development projects in his constituency. Others, however, view the move as a betrayal of the voters who entrusted him with their mandate under the Labour Party banner.

Efforts to reach Atu for further comment were unsuccessful, but sources close to his office insist that his decision was made after months of deliberation and consultations with key political players in his district. According to those familiar with the situation, Atu had grown increasingly frustrated with what he saw as endless legal battles and infighting that made policy-making and advocacy difficult.

The APC has yet to issue an official statement on Atu’s defection, but insiders within the party say his entry will be welcomed as part of a broader campaign to strengthen the party’s reach in the South-East region. Enugu, a stronghold of the LP in recent elections, now appears to be shifting its political loyalty as more lawmakers drift towards the ruling party.

Amid this political reshuffling, calls for a more principled approach to party loyalty and democratic representation have grown louder. Civil society groups argue that frequent defections erode public trust and dilute the power of the electorate. They have urged the National Assembly leadership to revisit existing laws on party switching and enforce stricter accountability standards for elected officials.

As Nigeria continues to navigate complex socio-political challenges, the actions of lawmakers like Atu serve as a barometer of the ongoing power play among the nation’s dominant political forces. Whether his defection will lead to tangible gains for his constituents or spark legal battles remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that the Labour Party’s troubles are far from over, and the ruling APC appears determined to capitalize on every opportunity that comes its way.