The lawmaker representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Honourable Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Action Peoples Party.
Ugochinyere formally defected on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The lawmaker announced his defection during plenary on the floor of the House of Representatives.
A vocal and influential member of the House, Ugochinyere has been a prominent figure within the PDP caucus, frequently participating in high-profile debates and offering strong commentary on national political issues.
His departure is widely regarded as a significant setback for the opposition party, particularly in Imo State, where persistent internal crises and leadership disputes have continued to undermine party unity.
The defection comes amid a controversial move by PDP officials at the ward and local government levels in Imo State to expel Ugochinyere over allegations of anti-party activities and insubordination.
However, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had earlier nullified the expulsion, describing it as unconstitutional and of no effect.
In a statement issued in December, the party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, maintained that ward or local government executives lack the authority to discipline or expel a serving member of the National Assembly without due process and the involvement of the party’s National Executive Committee.
