LP moves against defecting lawmakers, wants seats declared vacant

The Labour Party has filed lawsuits to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of the Party’s lawmakers who defected vacant, National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Obiora Ifoh, said in a statement.

According to the Party, the lawsuit also seeks to ensure defectors pay back any wages, benefits, and emoluments earned from the date of defection.

The development follows the recent defection of Mr Akangbe Illiya, federal legislator, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The LP said the lawmaker has brought disgrace to himself, and by his actions engraved his name on the Labour Party ‘Hall of Shame’.

“While it is true that the constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association, the constitution qualifies such rights regarding the membership of political parties.

“The law does not protect an individual who steals the mandate of a people and a political party to run into another without first surrendering the mandate he deceitfully acquired.

‘This, defection like similar ones before it is quite unfortunate and condemnable,” the party stated.

Labour Party noted that when a lawmaker sponsored by a political party decides to defect, Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution makes it clear what occurs.

A gale of defection has hit the Party recently. Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo) all defected to the APC last week.

Dalyop Chollom, representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau State, also joined the APC on Tuesday with Akangbe Illiya, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency being the latest.