PDP regains House majority as five Reps dump APC

The rank of the Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives again swelled on Tuesday as five members from Zamfara, Kano and Sokoto States dumped the All Progressives Congress.
One of the five members, Hon. Umar Bature from Sokoto State, was one of the 37 members that defected to the APC from the PDP on December 18, 2013.
The other members were: Hon. Lawal Shehu Bichi (Kano), Hon. Abdulsalam Adamu (Kano), Hon. Sani Umar (Zamfara) and Hon. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau (Zamfara).
The two members from Kano State are believed to be supporters of a former Governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, who recently defected to the PDP.
Interestingly, another PDP lawmaker from Kaduna State, Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, dumped the ruling PDP for the APC.
With this development, the PDP is comfortable as a majority party in the House.
The ruling party now has 178, up from 174, while APC lawmakers are now 168, reduced from 172.
It will be recalled that the APC had threatened to effect leadership change following defection of 37 PDP lawmakers to the APC in December.
As soon as the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tabuwal, announced the defection, the PDP lawmakers went into jubilation, shouting: “PDP, power! APC, shame!”
The Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, made an attempt to speak but was booed by the PDP colleagues.