Four Bauchi Reps Dump PDP For APM

The wave of defections in the House of Representatives continued on Thursday as four lawmakers from Bauchi State left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Naija News reports that the defections were announced during plenary after the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read letters from the affected lawmakers.

The lawmakers cited internal party crisis and the need to provide effective representation to their constituents as reasons for their defection.

The affected lawmakers are Muhammad Shehu, representing Zaki Federal Constituency; Aliyu Garu, representing Bauchi Federal Constituency; Sani Tanko, representing Shira/Giade Federal Constituency; and Mansur Soro, representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency.

Their move to the APM is significant given the PDP’s long-standing influence in Bauchi State.

The development also comes amid growing political activity around the state’s future power dynamics ahead of the 2027 general election.

Also announcing a change of political allegiance was Jeremiah Umaru, who represents Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State.

Umaru defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Thursday’s defections followed a series of similar movements in the House within the last week.

On Tuesday, eight lawmakers left the PDP for the APM, while three others moved from the APC to the PDP and the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

On Wednesday, three members of the House also left the APC to join the Peoples Redemption Party  (PRP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The growing defections have fuelled speculation about emerging political coalitions and strategic alliances ahead of the next election cycle.

Political observers say many lawmakers are reassessing their future amid internal crises in some parties, leadership disputes and the growing influence of smaller political platforms.

The PDP’s loss of four federal lawmakers from Bauchi represents another setback as the party continues efforts to rebuild cohesion after disputes that followed the 2023 general election.

The APM appears to be one of the major beneficiaries of the ongoing political realignments in the House of Representatives.

The party has attracted several lawmakers in recent days and now has within its fold Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.