Another member of the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives, Sunday Umahia, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday, May 22, 2025.

Umahia, who represents Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency of Enugu State, announced his decision through a formal letter read at plenary by the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen.

In his defection letter, the lawmaker cited the "elongated crisis" within the Labour Party as his primary reason for switching allegiance. He specifically mentioned the ongoing leadership tussle involving Senator Nenadi Usman, Barrister Julius Abure, and Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, all of whom continue to claim leadership of the party.

"Members are at a loss as to who they should defer to," Umahia stated in his letter. He further expressed his resolve to join the APC and "team up with the President to provide leadership for the country and the South-East in particular."

However, the defection has not gone without criticism. Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda expressed concern over the increasing rate of defections among legislators, describing it as "making a mockery of democratic rule in Nigeria."

Chinda called for a review of the constitutional provisions on defection to "safeguard Nigeria's democracy." He urged the Speaker to exercise his constitutional power and declare the seats of defectors vacant.

The Minority Leader also pointed out that the Supreme Court had already resolved the leadership crisis in the Labour Party, suggesting that it could no longer be used as a valid reason for defection.

Additionally, Chinda drew attention to the House's standing orders regarding committee leadership positions, which are allocated on a party basis. He argued that lawmakers who defect should be required to vacate their committee leadership positions.

This defection marks another blow to the Labour Party, which has been losing members in the National Assembly amid its internal leadership struggles.