Nigeria, March 13 -- Twelve members of the House of Representatives have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The defections were announced during Thursday's plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who read letters from the affected lawmakers notifying the chamber of their decision to leave their former parties.

Most of the defectors cited internal crises in their parties and the need to align politically in ways they believe would better serve their constituencies as reasons for leaving.

Among those who moved to the APC were four lawmakers from Adamawa State who left the PDP....