The House of Representatives on Tuesday confirmed the defection of Leke Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, from the African Democratic Congress to the All Progressives Congress.
Abejide’s defection was one of several announced on the floor of the House by the Speaker during plenary.
Also disclosed was the defection of no fewer than 17 lawmakers from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
Prior to the formal announcement, Abejide had, on Friday, declared his resignation from the African Democratic Congress.
“I joined ADC, nurtured it to national recognition as a political party with representation in both national and state assemblies. The party structure was funded by me as the then national leader of the party, which I have willingly relinquished to the current national chairman, Honourable Nafiu Bala Gombe, and I wish him good luck as he continues to fight for his rights in court.
“I have decided to change the broken bricks in the ADC and become a cornerstone in a better political party with a strong structure that will benefit my people,” Abejide said at a press conference.
His move followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s reinstatement of the David Mark-led leadership after the Supreme Court ruling on the party’s internal crisis.
Abejide accused David Mark and members of the opposition coalition of “hijacking” the party, prompting him to challenge them in court.
“It is a painful decision but necessary to save my political future from those who came to destroy my former political party that I laboured hard to nurture and loved dearly,” he said.
He added that, amid the crisis in the ADC, his legal advisers recommended he exit the party to protect his political future, a step he said he has now taken.