The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing an end to his leadership role within the opposition caucus in the Green Chamber.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday read Chinda’s letter of defection during plenary, formally notifying lawmakers of the Rivers lawmaker’s decision to leave the PDP for the ruling APC.
Following the announcement, Chinda tendered his resignation as Minority Leader of the House, a position he occupied as one of the ranking members of the opposition party in the National Assembly.
CHANNELS gathered that the defection comes weeks after Chinda secured the APC governorship ticket in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections. The lawmaker emerged as the party’s candidate following the withdrawal of other aspirants, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Tonye Cole and George Kelly.
Despite being the sole aspirant, APC members across Rivers State reportedly participated in an affirmation exercise, expressing support for Chinda’s candidacy.
Chinda, a close political ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is widely seen as a key figure in the evolving political landscape of Rivers State.
Meanwhile, the House also witnessed a wave of defections involving lawmakers from different political parties.
Several lawmakers from Oyo State announced their departure from the PDP to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). They include Anthony Adebayo Adepoju (Ibarapa North Federal Constituency), Adedeji Stanley Olajide (Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West), Makanjuola Sunday Ojo (Ogo-Oluwa/Surulere), Najimdeen Oyeshina Oyedeji (Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa), Folajimi Oyekunle (Ibadan North), and Abass Adekunle Adigun (Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East).
Also joining the APM from the PDP was Hon. Auwalu Abdu Gwalabe, representing Katagum Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.
In a related development, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State, defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The latest defections underscore the ongoing political realignments across the country as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.
