Newscenter Media News The House of Representatives on Thursday, during plenary, was thrown into an uproar when another Labour Party (LP) lawmaker, Hon. Ajang Iliya, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau state announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his letter of defection read at plenary by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Iliya said he was defecting in view of the crisis in the LP and the need to align with the policies and developmental initiative of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led-APC government.
However, members of the opposition protested the defection, insisting that his seat should be declared vacant.
His defection to the APC brings to six the number of LP members to have defected within one week.
In addition, the Plateau Lawmaker said that he believes that his decision to offer effective representation to his constituency will better be met while in the fold of the APC.
He said further that as a result of the current crisis in the party, he finds it difficult to align with LP’s approach to national issues.
He stressed that his defection was not based on any personal gains, but his desire to contribute to national development in general and Plateau State in particular.
However Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi did not oppose the defection, saying however that even though there is no crisis in the LP, he would not want to repeat the same thing all over again.
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“I want to wish all those defecting and those who may wish to do so and believe that the APC is their best destination good luck. We will be waiting to meet them again in 2027 if they will be here. The end will justify the means,” Ozodinobi.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda said the letter of defection should not be accepted by the House because it was not ripe as the lawmaker has not fulfilled the constitutional provision to do so.
He said the lawmaker should first go back to his ward and join the APC. before coming back to the House with his letter and then be prepared to face the consequences.
He accused the House of putting the cart before the Horse and accepting the letter of defection without the lawmaker complying with the provisions of the Constitution.
However, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (APC, Plateau) said the sections of the Constitution being cited by the Minority Leader was quite clear to all members, adding that the defecting member has fulfill all conditions precedent.
He said moreover, section 40 of the Constitution grant permission to anybody to form or join a political party, stressing that out of the 8 members of the House of Representatives from. plateau state, seven of them are presently members of the APC.
Mark Esset (PDP, Akwa Ibom) said as lawmakers, members of the parliament must show to the Nigerian people that they are not law breakers by correctly applying the provisions of the Constitution.
But former Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wade warned against wrong use of words in Parliament and noted that what the Speaker did in accepting the defection letter was in order.
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