Again: PDP Loses Another Lawmaker To LP In Abia

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia State Peoples  Democratic Party PDP, on Wednesday, April 2 , 2025, expressed optimism that it will emerge stronger from the ashes of its present  tribulations.

The Party’s message of hope comes against the backdrop of the defection of yet another of its State Lawmakers, Hon Collins Ugochukwu, to the ruling Labour Party,  LP, on Wednesday .

The defection of the Legislator representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, is coming on the heels of  the cross- carpeting of Hon Lucky Nweke Johnson to same LP about a week ago.

Before then however, three others had, at once, jumped ship earlier in the year, a situation that relegated the PDP from its imposing stature, to a minority in the Legislative body.

The PDP, even after losing control of the State’s seat of power post-2023 polls, still was in the driver’s seat in the House with 13 law makers out the 24-Member House.

The ruling LP had 11, while the All Progressive Congress, APC, had, and still has one Lawmaker.

But with the spate of defections since this year, with five of its  Lawmakers joining forces with the LP, the PDP has now strangely become the minority with just eight Legislators.

Hon Ugochukwu’s defection was officially announced by the Speaker,  Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa, during plenary on Wednesday.

Just like others before him in the defection train, Hon Ugochukwu cited the sterling performance of Governor Otti and the need to give him all necessary support as major reasons for signing for the LP.

Instructively, both Ugochukwu and Johnson are  from the same Isiala Ngwa axis with the Governor who, by now, will surely be  exuding a sense of conquest with the twin defections.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the State Chairman of the PDP, Comrade Abraham Amah, while urging calm among members  described the defections as a lesson, rather than a setback.

According to t him, the latest defection did not come to the State Working Committee, SWC, as a surprise as they had  pre-knowledge of the plan.

He noted that the party is very much aware of the underlying factors of the spate of defections.

However ,he  noted that the party, having learnt its lessons, will henceforth ensure stringent screening exercises  before handing out its tickets for elections.

The PDP Chairman blamed the present ugly situation on the mistakes of handing party platform to those who were only driven by selfish political interests.

He expressed the hope that the party will see the departure of these Lawmakers and others  as an  opportunity to reinvent and reposition itself.

“We must now channel our energy towards the road ahead. The signs are clear;  there are strong indicators to a better tomorrow.

Do not be discouraged. We shall overcome these challenges and rise up stronger than ever” Amah noted.