The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kept quiet over the defection of a Federal lawmaker, Hon Chris Nkwota from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Nkwota defected at the House plenary on Wednesday citing division at the party. However, despite the defection and protestations from members of the minority caucus of the House, neither the PDP in Abia State nor the National Working Committee the party has reacted to the allegations that the party was enmeshed in crisis.
Recall that Honourable Chris Nkwonta who represents Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Abbas Tajudeen, the Nkwota cited crisis in the PDP as his reason for leaving the PDP.
Despite protests from the opposition caucus, led by the Deputy Mimority Leader, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, the Speaker overruled the minority caucus and went ahead to allowed the defection as the Speaker noted that “The information available to me shows there is a faction.”
The PDP in Abia State and at the National level have not reacted to the defection.
Hon Nkwonta is the only member of the House of Representatives from the PDP; in the Senate, Senator Austin Akobundu, a former National Organising Secretary (NOS) and former National Vice Chairman (Southeast) of the PDP is the only one flying the flag of the PDP in the National Assembly currently.