Chris Nkwonta, an Abia lawmaker in the House of Representatives, has officially left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All-Progressives Congress (APC). He announced his defection on Wednesday through a letter that Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read aloud during a session.

Nkwonta represents the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency in Abia State. However, the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, raised objections to the defection, referencing Order 68 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that a lawmaker can only leave the party that sponsored their election in the event of a crisis within that party.

The Speaker ruled Madaki's point of order out of order, asserting that there is indeed a crisis within the PDP. "The information available to me shows there is a faction," he stated, prompting cheers from the APC members in attendance.