A prominent figure in Rivers State politics and the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) governorship candidate for 2027, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has emerged as the most high-profile name among 13 members of the House of Representatives who defected to new political parties on Tuesday.
Chinda, who also served as Minority Leader of the House, left the Peoples Democratic Party (Peoples Democratic Party) for the APC. Following his defection, he stepped down as Minority Leader, triggering a likely reshuffle in the opposition leadership structure in the Green Chamber.
The wave of defections also saw six lawmakers from Oyo State move from the PDP to the Allied Peoples Movement (Allied Peoples Movement), while others across party lines switched allegiance in what has become one of the most notable political realignments in recent months.
Full list of defecting lawmakers
- Hon. Kingsley Chinda — PDP to APC
- Hon. Anthony Adebayo — PDP to APM
- Hon. Adedeji Olajide — PDP to APM
- Hon. Sunday Makanjuola — PDP to APM
- Hon. Oyedeji Oyeshina — PDP to APM
- Hon. Fola Oyekunle — PDP to APM
- Hon. Adigun Adekunle — PDP to APM
- Hon. Auwalu Gwalabe — APC to PDP
- Hon. Shehu Dalhatu — APC to PDP
- Hon. Etanabene Benedict — Labour Party to PDP
- Hon. Alex Egbona — APC to PDP
- Hon. Esosa Iyawe — APC to Nigeria Democratic Congress (Nigeria Democratic Congress)
- Hon. Gbefwi Gaza — Social Democratic Party (Social Democratic Party) to Labour Party (Labour Party)
The defections reflect ongoing political realignments in the National Assembly as lawmakers reposition ahead of future electoral contests.
