A member of the House of Representatives, Jerry Alagbaoso has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gatekeepers News reports that the rep of Orlu/Oru east/Orsu federal constituency in Imo, read the letter of his defection during the plenary session on Tuesday.
Alagbaoso attributed his decision to the “confusion” in the Imo state chapter of the PDP.
The legislator said his decision to switch party would enable him to collaborate more effectively with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo, to align the state at the core of Nigerian politics.
He said, “All is not well in Imo state PDP. This explains why three of our colleagues from Imo state and PDP extraction in the House of Representatives defected to APC a few weeks ago.
“I will not be an exception considering the man-made confusion and headaches of PDP in Imo.
“What is happening in Imo PDP is not satisfactory to those people (members) and my colleagues who crossed over and it is not also satisfactory to me.
“The time for me to leave PDP and join my colleagues and join my brothers in APC is now.
“I’m leaving PDP because of the positive achievements of the performing governor of Imo who is of APC extraction. His achievement so far is worthy of commendation.
“I, therefore, wish to join him (Uzodimma) to move Imo state further to the centre just as Imo state elders have advised all politicians in Imo state origin to allow the governor to complete his second term because of his great achievement in Imo.”
The minority leader of the house, Ndudi Elumelu, while reading his letter of defection interrupted him, raising a point of order to express objection to the defection.
However, the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, did not acknowledge or recognise him.
Gbajabiamila said Alagbaoso’s defection was a significant one which was why he permitted him to read his letter.
He said, “It is indeed an earthquake moment. That is why I allowed him to read the letter so that you can hear from the horse’s mouth.”
Alagbaoso is a three-term member of the House of Representatives. In 2022, he failed in his bid to clinch the PDP senate ticket to contest in the 2023 general election.
