House Minority Leader, Chinda, Quits PDP, Joins APC

Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has officially switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement came as his letter of defection, dated April 23, 2026, was read on the floor of the House by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Following his move to the APC, Chinda has also relinquished his role as the House Minority Leader. This political maneuver comes shortly after Chinda, identified as a political ally of the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, reportedly emerged as the APC's governorship candidate for Rivers State in anticipation of the 2027 general election.

The House of Representatives also saw other lawmakers announce their party defections. Hon. Etanabene Benedict, representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in Delta State, moved from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP. Meanwhile, Hon. Auwalu Gwalabe of Bauchi State's Katagum Federal Constituency joined the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) from the PDP.

Further defections included multiple representatives from Oyo State. Hon. Najimdeen Oyedeji, Hon. Folajimi Oyekunle, and Hon. Abass Adekunle Adigun, all representing constituencies within Ibadan, announced their departure from the PDP to the APM. Additionally, Hon. Anthony Adepoju, Hon. Adedeji Olajide, and Makanjuola Sunday Ojo, representing various federal constituencies in Oyo State, also defected from the PDP to the APM.