Many Labour Party Reps are considering defecting to APC – Delta federal lawmaker

Etanabene Benedict, a member of the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the House of Representatives, has disclosed that several colleagues are contemplating defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Benedict made this revelation during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme aired on Channels Television on Friday, December 6,

This statement follows the defection of four LP lawmakers to the APC on Thursday, citing internal party crises as their reason for leaving. The LP has expressed its displeasure over these defections, threatening legal action and calling on Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant.

Benedict, who represents the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency of Delta, attributed the defections to strategic political calculations ahead of the 2027 general election.

“Nobody believes that if you are elected to office, there is a time limit, and when that time comes, if the people want you again, you’re reelected; if they don’t want you, you go,” he said.

“It is about 2027. The trend of Edo and Ondo is frightening to them, and they do not believe that they are strategically positioned to seek reelection under the umbrella of the Labour Party. That is the main reason.”

Benedict suggested that more defections could follow, adding, “There are still many others in the Labour Party that are thinking along that line too. So, if it happens tomorrow, I won’t be surprised.”

He also dismissed claims of an internal crisis within the LP, describing them as a mere pretext to justify the lawmakers’ exit from the party.