A member of the House of Representatives who defected on Thursday from the Labour Party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), has given reasons for his decision.
Esosa Iyawe, representing Oredo Federal Constituency in Edo State, on Thursday joined three others of the LP caucus at the house, namely Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna) and Bassey Akiba (Cross River) to join the APC.
Iyawe said his decision to leave the LP stemmed from the lack of a clear leadership direction by the party.
Speaking un a statement, the representative said: “My decision to resign from LP is as a result of the party’s inability to declare who should emerge as the legitimate Caretaker Committee from the National to State levels.
*More so, due the incessant tussle rocking the leadership of the party and the numerous perpetual Court cases against the Leadership of the party; myself and my supporters are in a state of confusion as to the Party’s stability in leadership.
“With regards to my right to freedom of association as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended); I hereby wish to notify you of my defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) whose ideas align with my political aspirations and ideology. This is after due consultations with my family and supporters.
“I hereby re-emphasis my resolve to continue my service and representation to my people as this decision will certainly improve my past performance at all levels.” Iyawe explained.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has opened what it describes as a “Hall of Shame” register for his former members who just joined the APC.
A statement signed and released by Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the
Labour Party, stated that although the party is undaunted by the defection, it has instructed its legal team to take up the matter immediately.
Ifoh said: “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.
“Section 68(g) of the 1999 constitution is emphatic on when to defect and what happens when a lawmaker sponsored by a political party decides to jump ship. The Constitution states (g) being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected;
Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored”
Ifoh added that the party will not just fold its arms on the defection without taking actions. “Though, the Labour Party leadership is undaunted by the defection, it has however, elected not to allow it slide and has therefore instructed its legal team to commence the legal actions against the defectors and to also commence the process of regaining our mandates in line with the 1999 constitution and 2022 Electoral Act as amended.
“The party will also approach the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare vacant the seats occupied by these former Labour Party members in line with the House Rules. It is inappropriate and unacceptable for the these lawmakers to continue to function as representatives of their constituencies illegally.” He said
