A member of the House of Representatives representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, Ojema Ojotu, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the lingering internal crisis within his former party as the main reason for his decision.
The defection was announced on Tuesday during plenary at the House of Representatives, where Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu presided over proceedings.
Kalu read the lawmaker’s official letter of defection before the House, marking Ojotu’s formal transition to the ruling party. The announcement immediately sparked heated reactions among lawmakers from both sides of the chamber.
According to the letter read on the floor, Ojotu stated that his decision to leave the PDP followed “perennial internal wrangling” that had made it difficult for the party to function effectively both at the national and state levels.
He further disclosed that his move was not impulsive but came after “extensive consultations” with his constituents, family members, and political associates across Benue State.
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“After wide consultations with my constituents, family members and political associates, and after careful consideration of the ongoing crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party, I have decided to resign my membership of the PDP and join the All Progressives Congress,” Ojotu wrote.
The defection triggered a mild drama on the floor of the Green Chamber as opposition lawmakers challenged the legality of his move.
House Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), immediately raised a Point of Order, urging the presiding officer to declare Ojotu’s seat vacant, in line with constitutional provisions governing defection without loss of party membership due to division.
Madaki argued that Ojotu had not presented enough evidence to prove that the PDP was factionalized at the national level, a requirement under Section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution for retaining a legislative seat after defection.
“Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time members have defected on the floor of this House. But the Constitution is very clear — unless there is a division in a party, you cannot defect and still keep your seat. We cannot continue to allow this illegality to thrive,” Madaki said.
However, the House Majority Leader, Ibrahim Halims, swiftly countered Madaki’s point, relying on Order 7 of the House Standing Rules. Halims argued that the PDP had long been engulfed in a series of unresolved leadership crises, both nationally and within Benue State, which justified Ojotu’s decision to protect his political career and represent his people effectively.
“When there is an unresolved crisis in a party and that party cannot resolve its crisis, the person concerned has the right to leave to protect his future,” Halims contended.
Following the back-and-forth, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, overruled the minority leader’s objection, welcoming Ojotu into the APC fold.
Kalu described Ojotu’s defection as a “bold and strategic step”, assuring him of the ruling party’s support and collaboration in advancing legislative duties that serve the interest of Nigerians.
“Honourable Ojotu, you are welcome to the All Progressives Congress. Be assured that you have joined a family committed to the growth and unity of our nation,” the Deputy Speaker said.
Ojotu currently serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways, a key committee that oversees the development and management of Nigeria’s vast river systems and inland transport routes. His defection is therefore seen as politically significant within the House hierarchy.
With Ojotu’s defection, the APC now holds all 11 federal constituency seats from Benue State in the House of Representatives — a clean sweep that further consolidates the ruling party’s grip on the North Central state.
Political observers note that this move may have far-reaching implications for the PDP’s structure and influence in Benue, a state that has historically oscillated between the two dominant parties since 1999.
The Benue chapter of the PDP has been plagued by internal disputes over leadership positions, the control of local government party structures, and the fallout from the 2023 general elections. These issues have reportedly caused divisions among key stakeholders and alienated some sitting lawmakers.
Ojotu’s defection adds to a growing list of PDP lawmakers across the country who have joined the APC in recent months, citing frustration over internal conflicts and lack of direction within the opposition.
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Political analysts say the defection could also bolster APC’s influence ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the party continues to consolidate power in strategic states.
For Ojotu, the defection marks a new chapter in his political journey. His constituents in Apa and Agatu local government areas — both in Benue South — are expected to watch closely how his move to the APC will translate into improved representation and development outcomes.
As of press time, the PDP has yet to issue an official statement reacting to the lawmaker’s defection.
