A member of the House of Representatives, representing the Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency of Abia State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Christian Nkwonta, yesterday defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Nkwonta announced his defection in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, read at plenary. Tajudeen said the lawmaker cited a crisis within his former party as the reason for his decision.

However, like the usual practice, Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, raised a point of order, citing Section 68 of the Constitution, saying the seat should be declared vacant in line with the provision of Section 68. The point of order was overruled by the Speaker, who welcomed Nkwonta to the APC.

Immediately after, the Speaker appointed Nkwonta as chairman of the newly constituted House Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC).

The Speaker also announced other new committee chairmen and their deputies, which include: Timehin Adelegbe as Chairman, Committee on Science Research Institutions; Kabiru Ahmadi Mai Palace as Chairman, House Committee on Sports; Abubakar Gummi as Chairman, House Committee on North East Development Commission (NEDC) and Kama Nkemkanma as the Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change and Security.

Others were Mohammed Mukthar as Chairman, Committee on Tourism; Zakariya Idris as Chairman, Committee on Safety Standards and Anayo Onwuegbu to Chair the House Committee on Lake Chad.