Headline
More Lawmakers Dump Parties To APC, See Full List
Two lawmakers have dumped parties and joined APC.
OnyxNews Nigeria reports that two members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Datti Yakwo (PDP, Kano) and Hon. Danjuma Usman (APGA, Taraba) on Tuesday dumped their political parties to join All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party.
This online news platform gathered that the letters of defection by the two lawmakers were read on the floor of the House during Tuesday plenary by Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila amidst protest by the leadership of the minority leadership describing the defection as illegal.
Hon. Aliyu who defeated Abdulmuminu Jibril of the APC in a rerun election in 2019 said he was leaving the PDP because of existing crisis in the party that has generated division within the party in the state.
On his part, Hon. Danjuma also said that the All Progressive Grand Alliance was currently saddled with internal crisis that has made it impossible for him to actualise his political aspirations.
However, in his point of order, Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu drew the attention of the House to the provisions of section 68 (1a) of the constitution which stipulates that any member who leaves the party in whose platform he was elected should lose his seat.
He said from his discussion with the leadership of the PDP in Kano state, there was no evidence of any crisis within the party, adding that as a man of integrity who took an oath to defend the law, the Speaker has a responsibility to declare the seat of the two lawmakers vacant.
Elumelu said the issue of defection may sound funny at the moment, saying “APC members are laughing now and enjoying themselves as members fragrantly decamp from the parties that brought them to this chamber. What they have done is illegal and we must not allow this to continue”.
Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu informed the House that there was an existing Supreme Court judgement which says that the crisis in political parties envisioned by the constitution was the crisis at the national level of the parties.
He said “we might deliberately continue to breach the law by allowing people to defect from the political parties that brought them to this parliament, adding that such situation must not be allowed to continue.
In ruling Elumelu out of order, the Speaker said “when a member said there is a crisis in his local government, neither the Speaker nor the Minority Leader has the power to say otherwise. If you do, you will have to prove that. I am aware that there is a case in court right now in Kano.”
However, the Speaker jokingly told Elumelu that: “something tells me that you will soon join the APC”, to which Elumelu immediately rejected saying “I have a dream that you will soon join the PDP.”
-
Entertainment7 days ago
BREAKING: Paul Okoye Welcomes Child With New Wife Ivy
-
Entertainment4 days ago
BREAKING: Nollywood Director Dimeji Ajibola Passes On
-
Brands and Marketing1 week ago
UPDATED: Naira Rises To N1,730/$ In Parallel Market
-
Headline7 days ago
Man Utd Announce Ruben Amorim As New Head Coach
-
Headline5 days ago
Ghana Launches first 5G network, Plans To Become West Africa’s Digital Hub
-
Headline3 days ago
BREAKING: Equatorial Guinea Restricts WhatsApp Over Sex Scandal
-
Headline4 days ago
U-17 WWC: Flamingos Win FFP Award
-
Headline2 days ago
BREAKING: Chief Of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja Dies At 56
-
Entertainment4 days ago
Multiple Grammy Winner Quincy Jones Is Dead
-
Headline3 days ago
BREAKING: Nigeria In Darkness As National Grid Collapses Again