Peter Obi Dumps PDP For LP, Abaribe Joins APGA, Kwankwaso Moves To NNPP – Major Defections Of 2022

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, several significant defections happened across various political parties in the course of the year.

Naija News reports that some notable politicians decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to various opposition parties to pursue their political ambitions.

While some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to achieve their political aspirations.

In this article, we will be looking at some of the standout defections.

Emmanuel Bwacha Dumps PDP For APC

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, on February 3rd, defected from the PDP to the APC. He was the Senate Deputy Minority Leader until his defection to the ruling party.

Bwacha is the Senator representing Taraba South in the red chamber of the National Assembly.

He was elected to the Federal House of Representatives for the Donga/Ussa / Takum Constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007 before losing his bid to go to the Senate in the 2007 elections.

Bwacha was successfully elected in the 2011 elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was re-elected in 2015 and 2019 respectively.

Rabiu Kwankwaso Officially Dumps PDP For NNPP

On March 29, the former Minister of Defence, Musa Rabi’u Kwankwaso officially dumped the PDP for the NNPP ahead of the 2023 general elections.

In a letter of resignation addressed to his ward chairman, Kwankwaso said he withdrew his membership from the opposition PDP due to serious and irreconcilable differences in the party.

During a press conference held in Abuja, Kwankwaso said he left the PDP because of the failure of its leadership and lack of internal democracy.

The former Minister of Defence added that in 2021 he was sidelined from the activities of the PDP and waited for the leadership of the party to talk to him for over one year but got no response.

It is understood that this is the second time the former Kano governor will be dumping the PDP for another party.

Peter Obi Dumps PDP, Submits Resignation Letter

On May 24, the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, resigned from the opposition PDP days before the party’s presidential primary in Abuja.

Obi tendered his resignation letter at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, through his campaign Director General, Doyin Okupe.

In the letter dated May 24, 2022, and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, Obi said recent developments in the party do not support constructive contributions.

However, days after his defection, Obi announced that he will be contesting the 2023 presidency under the platform of the LP.

Enyinnaya Abaribe Dumps PDP, Joins APGA

On May 27, former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe dumped the opposition PDP. The lawmaker left the party days after he withdrew from the governorship primaries, citing an imaginary delegate list, and lack of transparency as reasons for his withdrawal.

He also resigned as the Senate Minority Leader and joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to seek re-election into the Senate on the party’s platform.

Abaribe, who is the most-ranking Senator in Abia, will be contesting the Abia South Senate seat with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP and other candidates.

Adamu Aliero Dumps APC For PDP

A former Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero, on July 9, dumped the ruling APC for the opposition PDP.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and member of the Senate announced his defection in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi state capital.

Aliero said his decision to dump the ruling party was informed due to the injustice meted out to him and his supporters across the state by the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

The Senator said that the treatment of his supporters unjustly forced him out of the party to join the PDP despite his several efforts to resolve the issues.

Aliero asserted that some of the efforts made included complaining to the national headquarters of the party.

Ibrahim Shekarau Joins PDP After Leaving APC, NNPP

2022 has been a busy year for the former Governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau in politics.

On June 29, the lawmaker representing Kano Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly announced his defection from APC to NNPP. His defection was widely celebrated in Kano after his running battle with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

However, things quickly went bad for the former governor in the party after he claimed that the party’s presidential candidate and his successor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, failed to honour their agreement.

On August 29, Shekarau dumped the NNPP and joined the PDP at a political rally organised at his Mundubawa home in Kano.

Yakubu Dogara Officially Dumps APC For PDP

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has officially announced his membership withdrawal from the ruling APC for the opposition PDP.

The lawmaker was received into the PDP on December 5 during the party’s presidential campaign in Lagos State.

Dogara’s defection to PDP comes barely three days after a group led by him, the Northern Leaders Consultative Forum, adopted the party’s flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, as the preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

The group consisting of Christian and Muslim religious and political leaders in the north said after careful evaluation of all the presidential candidates, Atiku appears the best to them.

Lasun Yusuf Quits LP, Defects To PDP

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf officially dumped LP for the PDP, months after losing the Osun governorship election.

Yusuf joined the PDP on December 7 during the PDP presidential campaign flag-off of the PDP in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

Speaking at the rally, Yusuf prayed for the emergence of the PDP presidential candidate as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

The former Speaker was elected into the House on the platform of the APC before defecting to LP in 2022 and now decamped to the PDP.