Amos Magaji, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Zangon Kataf/Jaba federal constituency in Kaduna State, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, made the announcement of Magaji’s defection after reading a letter on the floor of the House on Tuesday.
Magaji explained that his decision to leave the PDP was driven by the ongoing crisis within the party, which he said made it “impossible” for him to remain.
In response, Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, rejected Magaji’s defection, insisting there was no crisis in the PDP. Chinda also called on Speaker Abbas to declare Magaji’s seat vacant, citing Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the conditions under which a lawmaker may lose their seat.
Abbas advised Chinda to submit an official letter with his request for further consideration.
Magaji’s defection is part of a growing trend, as several lawmakers have recently switched from the PDP and Labour Party to the APC. Other notable defections include Chris Nkwonta (PDP), who joined the APC on October 2, 2024, Sulaiman Abubakar (PDP), who switched on October 30, and four members from the Labour Party and one from the PDP who joined the APC on December 5, 2024.
