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By Tracy Moses
The Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ali Isa Jegede, on Wednesday issued a formal notice inviting all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House to an emergency caucus meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The meeting will hold at the Minority Party Meeting Room 4-1-7, with members urged to attend promptly due to the importance of the agenda.
During Wednesday’s plenary, the House also received a communication from Hon. Engr. Rodney E., who represents the Sagamu/Epe/Ejigbo Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State and serves as Chairman of the Nigeria–Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group, announcing his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his letter, Rodney cited the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP at the national level, which he said has created widespread uncertainty across state structures of the party and made it increasingly difficult for him to discharge his duties effectively.
“It has become difficult to perform my role and effectively represent my constituency due to the confusion over which faction controls the party,” he stated.
He explained that his decision to leave the PDP was aimed at ensuring more effective representation of his constituents and contributing meaningfully to national development under the APC. Rodney added that he had formally notified the PDP ward leadership of his resignation.
A similar communication was read from Hon. Abubakar Boko, who represents the Boko/Boko Constituency of Bauchi State and chairs the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies, announcing his resignation from the PDP.
Boko said his decision followed extensive consultations with constituents and family members, noting that the protracted internal crisis within the PDP had necessitated his defection to the APC.
“We are all aware of the protracted crisis in my former party. It is on this basis that I have decided to defect to the APC,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the PDP for the platform it had previously provided him to serve.
Although both lawmakers were absent from the chamber, the APC Caucus welcomed them warmly, describing the ruling party as “the biggest and greatest party in Africa.” A senior APC lawmaker from their home state attempted to comment on the development but was unable to do so “for obvious reasons,” according to the presiding officer, an aside that drew light laughter from lawmakers.