Ugochinyere formally announced his defection on Wednesday on the floor of the House.
Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Peoples Party (APP), dealing a fresh blow to the embattled opposition party.
Ugochinyere formally announced his defection on Wednesday on the floor of the House.
A vocal and influential lawmaker, Ugochinyere has been a prominent figure within the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives.
The defection comes against the backdrop of a controversial attempt by PDP officials at the ward and local government levels in Imo State to expel Ugochinyere from the party over alleged anti-party activities and insubordination.
However, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had since nullified the expulsion, declaring it unconstitutional and of no effect.
In a statement issued in December, the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, insisted that neither ward nor local government executives have the authority to discipline or expel a serving member of the National Assembly without due process and the involvement of the party’s National Executive Committee.