Benedict Etanabene, the lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives, has downplayed the notion that recent defections from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) signify a crisis within the party.
Instead, he attributes the moves to political strategizing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television, Etanabene dismissed claims of internal discord as the reason for the defections. According to him, the defecting lawmakers are positioning themselves in response to the APC’s recent electoral successes in Ondo and Edo States, which have unsettled some opposition members.
“There is no leadership crisis in the Labour Party,” he asserted. “Those who left the party, including those aligned with the Julius Abure faction, are simply thinking about their political future and the challenges posed by the APC’s dominance.”
Etanabene further argued that the defections reflect a broader trend likely to affect other opposition parties as the 2027 elections approach. He said, “What happened in Edo and Ondo is frightening to the extent that in 2027, it is going to be business as usual for APC. They [the defectors] have started thinking of positioning themselves.”
Recent Labour Party Defections
Four Labour Party lawmakers defected to the APC on Thursday, including:
- Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency)
- Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna)
- Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency)
- Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo)
Despite these defections, Etanabene emphasized his loyalty to the Labour Party and dismissed any intention of following suit. He urged politicians to uphold morality in politics and resist abandoning the parties that gave them electoral opportunities.
“I have no plans to leave the Labour Party. Politicians need to prioritize ethics and avoid switching parties for personal gains. Loyalty to the people and the platform that brought you to office is paramount,” he said.
Etanabene also lamented the current state of electoral integrity in Nigeria, criticizing the system where votes do not seem to count. He called for urgent reforms to restore public confidence in the electoral process and urged politicians to focus on the long-term development of democracy rather than short-term gains.
