NIGERIA (Abuja) – There was drama yesterday at the House of Representatives when 37 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected officially into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This move now made APC the majority with 171 members while PDP now has 167 members.

At the floor of the house yesterday, a letter written by intending defectors was read by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal to the hearing of members.

The letter read thus:  “We, the undersigned members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wish to inform you that we have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“This action is as a result of the division/faction in the political party that sponsored our election into the House of Representatives.

“Furthermore, we write to inform you that following this division, the faction of the PDP, which we belong to, has formally merged with the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“This communication is made pursuant to Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, for your information, guidance and records, please.

The defectors are: Nasir G. Sule, Ahmad A. Zarewa, Aliyu Sani Madaki, Bashir Babale, Alhassan Ado, Munir Dan’ Agundi, Aminu Suleiman, Abudulmumin Jibrin, Musa Ado, Musthapha Bala and Mukthari Mohammed, from Kano State.

Those from Sokoto State are: Kabiru Marafa Achida, Aminu Shagari, Isa Salihipu Bashir, Abdulahi Mohammed Wamako, Saadu Nabunkari, Aliyu Shehu, Shuaibu Gobir, Musa Sarkin-Adar , Abdullahi Balarabe and Umar Bature.

From Rivers State are: Andrew Uchendu, Asita Honourable, Sokonte Davies, Dakuku Peterside, Mpigi Barinada, Pronen Maurice, Dawari George and Ogbonna Nwuke.

Kwara State has on its list: Ali Ahmad, Rafiu Ibrahim Adebayo, Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Mustafa Moshood, Aliyu Ahman- Pategi and Zakari Mohammed.

Two other members, Nasiru Sani from Katsina State and Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi, were also on the list.

The defectors wrote their names in their handwriting and signed the letter accordingly

“We the undersigned hereby certify that we have perfected all arrangements to move from PDP to APC, today 28 November, 2013”, showing that the defection had been planned for an earlier date.

After the letter was read, members of the APC greeted it with joy and roar of APC! while some PDP members publicly expressed their anger about this and tried to outwit their opponents by shouting PDP!.

The names of the defecting members were read out by the Speaker. Thereafter, all the members involved filed out amidst the ovation. Led by the leader of the opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila, they went to shake hands with the Speaker.

Old APC members in the House then went round the chamber, shaking hands with the new members and chatting with them in groups.

However, efforts by a member of PDP in Rivers State, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, to make the Speaker reverse the defection were unacceptable.

Chinda said it was sub-judice for the House to accept the defection of the members to APC as a case on the matter filed by the members themselves “is still alive and pending”.

He urged the speaker to ensure “that they defect at the proper time”.

The Speaker therefore replied him saying,“I have listened to your point and have taken note.”