Opposition lawmakers condemn colleagues’ defections to APC
Federal lawmakers elected on the platform of opposition parties have condemned the gale of defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress by their colleagues.
This was as they dismissed claims by the defectors that their reason for running to the fold of the APC was due to one form of crisis or another in the political platforms on which they were elected.
In December 2024, the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party lost six House of Representatives members to the APC at a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
The LP lost Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
On its part, the PDP lost Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta), a lawmaker and daughter of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori Who also left for the APC.
Earlier in the week, a Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Ned Nwoko, also dumped the PDP, citing internal wrangling and “loss of identity” by the once-dominant part as reasons for his decision.
There have been calls by leaders of the two parties in both chambers to declare the seats of the deflectors vacant in line with the provisions of the law.
However, this has remained a mere song on the lips of the affected parties as they appear to be losing steam a few years to the 2027 general election.
Condemning the defection of Nwoko, Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH said PDP was worried about the defections owing to their implication on the nation’s democracy.
He said, “We are as worried as everyone. PDP members and Nigerians are worried because of its implications for our democracy.”
On whether his party caucus in the parliament would seek legal redress on the matter, Senator Moro noted, “The decision as to whether to go to the court rests with the PDP as the party that sponsored those persons.”
On his part, the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State, Afam Ogene dismissed the defections as events too insignificant to worry about.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the LP chieftain said, “I do not see the wave of defections in the House of Representatives as worrisome. This is essential because different dynamics threw up different people to become members of the legislature.
“In several cases, people won on the wings of the phenomenal Peter Obi wave, while some others were beneficiaries of judicial pronouncements, which ousted erstwhile holders of that position.
“But everything considered, I do not think it is right to judge the defectors by my own standards. Whether they have justified the electoral goodwill which they benefitted from, by defecting, is left to the individual consciences.”
Afam argued that the right to seek legal intervention should be left to the party rather than a legislative caucus.
