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December 13, 2024
The political party which made this known in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said that the defected lawmakers have the constitutional right to freedom of association but they do not have the constitutional right to defect to another political party with mandate “stolen” from LP.
The Labour Party (LP) said it has filed a lawsuit asking court to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of lawmakers who defected from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant.
The political party which made this known in a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said that the defected lawmakers have the constitutional right to freedom of association but they do not have the constitutional right to defect to another political party with mandate “stolen” from LP.
Ifoh said, “The Labour Party received with dismay news of the betrayal of the people of Jos South/Jos East by Mr. Akangbe Illiya, a man whom the Labour Party and the people of Plateau State entrusted with their collective hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable society through legislation.
“Hon. Illiya who just engraved his name on the Labour Party 'Hall of Shame' Register has brought dishonour to himself through this action.
“While it is true that the constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association, the constitution qualifies such rights regarding the membership of political parties.
“The law does not protect an individual who steals the mandate of a people and a political party to run into another without first surrendering the mandate he deceitfully acquired.”
According to Ifoh, “This defection, like similar ones before it, is quite unfortunate and condemnable.
“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.”
He said, “It is unnecessary probing 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.
“Meanwhile, 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 privileges received, from the date of defection, be returned.”
SaharaReporters had reported that Iliya, a House of Representatives member representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau State, defected from the Labour Party to the ruling APC barely a week after the LP lost six of its members in the House to the APC.
The House Speaker, Abbas who announced Iliya’s defection at the plenary session on Thursday while reading the letter of defection to the APC, cited “the crisis in the leadership of the Labour Party,” and other related issues as reasons for the development.
Iliya further stated in his letter that he “finds it difficult to align with LP’s position on current issues.”
Earlier Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo) and Daulyop Fom (Plateau) all defected from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress.
STATEMENT FROM THE LABOUR PARTY
Defection: Labour Party heads to court, wants defectors seats declared vacant
The leadership of the Labour Party again received with dismay news of the betrayal of the people of Jos South/Jos East by Mr. Akangbe Illiya, a man whom the Labour… pic.twitter.com/OJ0t2OiDfa
— LabourPartyNG (@NgLabour) December 13, 2024