LP moves to challenge defections, vows legal action against lawmakers
…Demands vacant seats, legal action as defectors cross to APC
The Labour Party (LP) has vowed to take aggressive legal action against its former members who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of betraying public trust and violating constitutional laws.
The opposition party announced plans to request that the Speaker of the House of Representatives declare the seats of the defecting lawmakers vacant, arguing that their defection constitutes a breach of the nation’s political norms.
In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, condemned the actions of the lawmakers, stressing that their switch in allegiance would not go unchallenged.
The defectors, including Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau), had their defection letters read on the floor of the House by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas earlier in the day.
“The Labour Party has decided to take a strong stand against these defections. We will ask the Speaker of the House to declare the seats of these defecting lawmakers vacant, in line with House rules. They cannot continue to represent their constituencies while betraying the mandate they obtained under the LP ticket,” Ifoh said.
Ifoh further revealed that the party has also initiated a ‘Hall of Shame’ register for any elected official who defects fraudulently without first relinquishing the mandate they secured on the LP platform.
He said that such individuals would be publicly denounced, emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of democratic processes in Nigeria.
“These lawmakers have demonstrated a grave level of character deficit by betraying public trust. We call on Nigerians to reject these political opportunists and ensure they do not thrive in future elections,” Ifoh added.
The LP also reiterated that under Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, lawmakers are prohibited from defecting unless certain conditions are met, including resignation from their political party.
The party’s legal team has already been mobilised to begin the process of challenging the defections in court, seeking to regain the party’s mandates in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Despite these defections, the LP remains undeterred in its resolve to strengthen its position in the political landscape.
The party called on Nigerians to be wary of politicians who jump from one party to another, describing the practice as detrimental to the nation’s democratic values.
“We will not allow these defections to weaken our resolve or hinder our progress. The LP is committed to a better, more inclusive political future for Nigerians,” Ifoh added.
