The Labour Party (LP) has expressed strong disapproval of the recent defection of four of its members in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party has vowed to take legal action against the defectors while demanding that their seats be declared vacant.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the defections during a plenary session, identifying the lawmakers as Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe.
The defectors cited alleged “internal crises” within the LP as their reason for switching allegiance to the APC.
In a swift reaction, LP spokesperson Obiora Ifoh, in a statement, condemned the actions of the lawmakers, describing their defection as a breach of democratic principles and a violation of the 1999 Constitution.
“The defection, to us, is quite unfortunate, and we condemn the action which is irrational, untenable, inconsistent, and alien to all known norms for which democracy stands for,” Ifoh said.
Citing Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, Ifoh explained that a lawmaker elected under the sponsorship of a political party could only defect if there is a division within the party or if the party merges with another.
The LP insists that no such conditions exist within its structure, making the defections unlawful.
“The Constitution is emphatic on when to defect and what happens when a lawmaker sponsored by a political party decides to jump ship,” Ifoh stated.
The party argued that the lawmakers’ continued tenure as representatives of their constituencies under the APC is illegal and called on Speaker Abbas to act in line with constitutional provisions and House rules by declaring their seats vacant.
The Labour Party has instructed its legal team to initiate proceedings against the defectors and is determined to reclaim its mandates.
The party also announced plans to establish a “Hall of Shame” register for members who defect without relinquishing the mandate secured under the LP.
“The party has decided to open a ‘Hall of Shame’ register for these lawmakers or any lawmaker or elected officer of the party who engages in the fraudulent act of defection without first dropping the mandate gotten under the ticket of the party,” Ifoh added.
The LP maintained that it remains undaunted by the defections and will pursue justice in line with the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended).
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