Etanabene Benedict, a member of the House of Representatives from the Labour Party (LP), has revealed that several of his colleagues are considering defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Benedict, who represents the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency in Delta State, made this statement during an appearance on the Politics Today program on Channels Television on Friday.
His comments follow the defection of four LP lawmakers to the APC on Thursday. The defectors cited ongoing crises within the Labour Party as their primary reason for the move.
In response, LP officials condemned the defections and threatened legal action, including a request to Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas to declare their seats vacant.
Benedict explained that the defections were part of a broader strategy as lawmakers aimed to strengthen their political position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, many LP members are concerned about their chances of reelection under the party’s current trajectory.
He emphasized that the defections were motivated by the belief that they would not be well-positioned to secure re-election within the LP framework.
Benedict further dismissed claims of an internal crisis within the party, calling them mere excuses used by the defectors to justify their actions.
He noted that while some lawmakers have already made the decision, many others in the LP are also contemplating similar moves.
“If it happens tomorrow, I won’t be surprised,” Benedict said, referring to the potential for more defections in the near future.
