By Abdul Tukur 

Raphael Igbokwe has quit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and instead joined the All Progressives Congress. 

Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, read a letter from the Honourable member requesting for his switch from the PDP in the presence of the Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha, this afternoon.

Dr Igbokwe, a former chief of staff to the Imo State House of Representative, who has represented Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte since 2011, said he was leaving the PDP due to its leadership crisis.

The latest defection was met with protest from remaining members of the PDP, who stated that the 45-year-old lawmaker should forfeit his seat rather than decamp, as the crisis in the party has since been resolved.

In March Hassan Sale who represents Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu constituency in Benue State left the opposition party to join the APC.

Edward Pwajok (Plateau) and Adamu Kamale (Adamawa) left the PDP in May and in October, Zephaniah Jisalo and Ahmed Tijani also joined the ruling party.

The PDP has so far lost 6 memebers in the House to other parties. There are talks of other defections including Mayowa Akinfolarin, the rep member for ileoluji-Okeibo/Odigbo in Ondo State.