(House of Representatives. Photo by wikipedia)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suffered yet another setback in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as Aliyu Misau, member representing Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, formally defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Misau’s exit comes barely days after four other members of the Bauchi caucus elected on the PDP platform dumped the opposition party for the APM, deepening concerns over the party’s shrinking influence in the state.
His decision was conveyed in a letter addressed to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and read during plenary on Wednesday, in which he cited the PDP’s protracted leadership crisis as the reason for his departure.
“I would like to thank the PDP for the opportunity given to me to serve the good people of Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency.
The leadership crisis in the PDP has made it impossible for me to continue to represent my people and contribute to the development of the constituency,” the letter read in part.
The defection is widely seen as part of a broader political realignment triggered by the recent exit of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed from the PDP to the APM.
Since the governor’s move, several political officeholders and party loyalists in the state have either joined the APM or indicated their intention to do so.
The latest development further weakens the PDP’s numerical strength in the House and underscores the mounting challenges facing the party, which has been embroiled in leadership disputes at both national and state levels for months.
Disagreements over the party’s direction, control of its structures, and preparations for future elections have fuelled tensions among key stakeholders, triggering a wave of defections across several states.
With Misau’s departure, the APM continues to consolidate its foothold in Bauchi State, buoyed by the steady influx of elected representatives and prominent figures from the PDP.
