From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
There was mild drama on the floor of the House of Representatives, yesterday, when another member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ehizuwa Agbonnayinma, joined the All Progressives Congress( APC).
The defection of Agbonnayinma, who represents Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency of Edo State, came 48 hours after Nnanna Igbokwe, from Imo State, also dumped the PDP for the ruling party.
In a letter to Speaker Yakubu Dogara, which was read at yesterday’s plenary, Agbonnayinma, popularly called EJ, said the PDP shut its door against him in the aftermath of the party’s leadership crisis.
“You can recall that I did not participate in the party’s national convention of December 9, at Eagle Square, in Abuja, because I belong to the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff’s camp, which tried to put things right in the PDP. The PDP has shut the door against me and I have no other alternative than to heed the call of the people, who elected me, to resign from the PDP and join the APC,’’ the lawmaker said.
Surprising, his defection elicited jubilation in the chamber.
While some APC members chanted “APC,” their PDP colleagues echoed “Fail!” While APC members hugged Agbonnayinma, PDP lawmakers, including those from Edo State, stood up in unison and bade him farewell.
Agbonnayinma was later presented with a small flag of the ruling party by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, who was in the chamber to witness his defection.