Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the ongoing factional crisis at the national level of the PDP.
Bonzena announced his decision on Monday, adding that 15 other PDP lawmakers in the House have also submitted letters informing the Assembly of their defection to the APC.
The lawmakers who defected include Deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali II); Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu (Wukari I); Tafarki Eneme (Kurmi); Akila Nuhu (Lau); Musa Chul (Gassol I); and Josiah Yaro (Wukari II).
Others are Tanko Yusuf (Takum I), Veronica Alhassan (Bali I), Anas Shuaibu (Karim Lamido II), Nelson Len (Nguroje), Umar Adamu (Jalingo I), Joseph Kassong (Yorro), John Lamba (Takum II), Happy Shonruba (Ardo-Kola) and Zakari Sanusi (Ibi).
Bonzena stressed that the mass defection was taken “in the interest of Taraba State,” urging residents not to misunderstand the lawmakers’ decision.
“We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members,” he said. “This is the best decision for the state, and we urge the people to continue supporting the government.”
Former Speaker and member representing Mbamnga Constituency, Peter Diah, welcomed the defectors to the APC. He noted that the House had been accommodating to APC lawmakers when they were in the minority and expressed happiness that other members have now aligned with the party’s direction.
Diah added that the lawmakers’ decision reflects their support for President Bola Tinubu’s vision and prayed that the development marks “a new dawn” for Taraba State.
With the defection, the Taraba State House of Assembly now has no minority member.
