The Labour Party has taken legal action regarding the defection of six members of the House of Representatives who switched from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Thursday, Akangbe Illiya, who represents Jos South/Jos East in Plateau State, joined the APC, increasing the number of House members who were elected under the LP but have since left the party.
In a statement, LP spokesman Obiorah Ifo described Illiya’s defection to the APC as “deeply unfortunate and condemnable.”
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While admitting that the “Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association,” the party said 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”.
Obiorah said “the party has since filed actions in the court to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of the defected Labour Party lawmakers vacant. The suit also seeks that every salary, emolument, or privilege received, from the date of defection, be returned”.
The party said it “is unnecessary to probe why most of the defectors chose the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their destination point and why the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Tajudeen Abass has refused to respect the provisions of the constitution by declaring their seats vacant.
“However, those politicians who have chosen to abandon the people at this crucial time in their lives are the ones who deserve pity because they have exposed themselves as unworthy of our collective trust going forward”.
In the span of about two weeks, six members of the House of Representatives have defected from the LP to the APC, citing a leadership crisis within one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties.
In response to the defections, the LP announced plans to pursue legal action against the lawmakers.
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