By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Taraba State House of Assembly has witnessed a mass defection of Members from the People’s Democratic Party PDP to the rulling All Progressive Congress APC.
In a letter read at the floor of the House, Speaker, Rt. Hon. John Kizito Bonzena aid that the situation the PDP is facing has deteriorated to the extent that the Federal High Court has issue multiple judgement orders halting the National Convention of the Party which was schedule for between 15th-16th, November 2025 in Ibadan, the Oyo state Capital.
“The cumulative effect of this deep- seated and prolonged crisis is the total collapse of cohesion, unity and certainty within the PDP.
“The current condition of the PDP clearly meets this constitutional threshold, Lack of unity in the PDP at the National level.
According to him, the crisis is not superficial, but fundermental and has stability for its elected members.
The Speaker pointed out that under Section109 (1)(g) of the Constitution, a legislator is permitted to decamp to another political party where there is division, fractionalization or crisis in his party, such that the party can no longer function as a single united entity.
Rt. Hon. Bonzena said that the party has for an extended period, been engulfed in a profound and unresolved leadership crisis at the national level that has rendered it’s structure unstable and incapable of providing the platform necessary for democratic represention.
“At present, two fractional National Chairmen, Alhaji Umar Damagum and Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohamed are laying parallel claims to the leadership of the party. Likewise, the Board of Trustees is divided, with Senator Adolphus Nwagbara and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa leading seperate faction. These internal divisions have further deepened the crisis-he said.
“In light of the above, and in order to continue to effectively deliver democratic dividends to my constituents, I have decided both legally and politically to resign from the PDP and join the APC, a party that currently offers the stability, unity and organizational structure required for me to continue discharging my legislative duties responsibly. I therefore respectful request that this letter be brought to the attention of the members of the state Assembly and recorded accordingly – he added.
The Speaker also said that 15 other PDP House of Assembly members have also forwarded their letters to defect from the PDP to the APC.
They include Deputy Speaker, Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali 2 Constituency); Majority Leader, Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1 Constituency); Tafarki Eneme (Kurmi Constituency); Akila Nuhu (Lau Constituency); Musa Chul (Gassol 1 Constituency); Josiah Yaro (Wukari 2 Constituency).
Others are: Tanko Yusuf (Takum 1 Constituency); Veronica Alhassan (Bali 1 Constituency); Anas Shuaibu (Karim Lamido 2 Constituency); Nelson Len (Nguroje Constituency); Umar Adamu (Jalingo 1 Constituency); Joseph Kassong (Yorro Constituency); John Lamba (Takum 2 Constituency); Happy Shonruba (Ardo-Kola Constituency) and Zakari Sanusi (Ibi Constituency).
The speaker further stated that the decision is not personal but for the collective interest of the state.
“Our people should not misinterpret this decision of ours. It is for the interest of the state.
“We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members.
“We also want the people of Taraba to see this as the best decision for the state and they should continue to support the government.”
In his remarks, former speaker and Member representing Mbamnga Constituency, Peter Diah, welcomed the speaker and other members into his party, the APC.
He commend the house had been generous to him and other APC members when they were in the minority.
“I am happy that we have all now keyed into the vision of President Bola Tinubu and have joined them.
He prayed that their movement would be a new dawn for Taraba state and its people having joined the party at the centre.
“As it stands there is no minority member in the Taraba state House of Assembly.
Most members describe the day as historical in the political history of the state saying,
“It is a collective decision with our constituents after strong consultations which we have their backing. By the renew hope of President Ahmed Bola Ahmed Tinibu and the moving forward agenda of Governor Abgu Kefas.