Six lawmakers in the Enugu State House of Assembly who members of the Labour Party (LP) have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They announced their defection on Thursday in Enugu a letter read by the Speaker, Chief Uche Ugwu, during plenary.
The lawmakers are the Majority Leader, Mr Johnson Ani (Enugu North); the Chief Whip, Mr Ejike Eze, (Igbo-Eze North 1); and the Deputy Chief Whip, Ms Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural).Others are Mr Pius Ezugwu (Nsukka East); Mr Williams Amuka (Igbo-Etiti West); and Mr Osita Eze (Oji River).
They said they were leaving due to irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within at the national level and across all the state chapters of the party.
They said the party has remained in perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, which undermine its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
The Labour Party, they said, once seen as a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, have regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of electorates.
They cited the clash between Mr Julius Abure and Mr Limido Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party.
They said the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leaderships of LP for their supports.
The defecting lawmakers also acknowledge that the letters were sent to the office of the Speaker by themselves, adding that they would work wholeheartedly for the progress of their new party in Enugu State.
The Speaker welcomed the lawmakers into the PDP and promised that they would be carried along in the legislative activities of the House.
Following the defection, the PDP now has the majority in the House with 17 members while LP is left with six members.