The Labour Party has initiated plans to reclaim the seats of four lawmakers who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of undermining the party’s mandate while retaining their parliamentary positions.
Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, revealed this during an interview with The PUNCH. He condemned the defectors’ actions as “unfortunate, irrational, and inconsistent with democratic principles.”
The lawmakers in question—Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau)—officially announced their defections last Thursday through letters read by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Citing Constitutional Grounds
Ifoh highlighted Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that any lawmaker sponsored by a political party must vacate their seat upon defecting unless the party is experiencing an internal crisis. He argued that the Labour Party is not currently in crisis, making the lawmakers’ defections a violation of constitutional principles.
Three-Step Approach
The party has outlined a three-pronged strategy to address the situation:
1. Publicly condemning the defections.
2. Petitioning the Speaker to declare the seats vacant.
3. Pursuing legal action to ensure the lawmakers are removed from office.
“We have formally asked the Speaker to declare their seats vacant, but given his support for the defectors, we don’t expect compliance. Consequently, we are preparing to escalate the matter to court. Our legal team has been instructed to proceed with filing the case,” Ifoh stated.
Introducing the “Hall of Shame”
In a bid to discourage similar defections, the Labour Party has announced plans to launch a “Hall of Shame” register. This document will publicly list defectors, rebels, and other individuals the party deems to have betrayed its mandate.
“On Monday, we will publish the register in the media. This is to educate the public on the impropriety of taking a party’s mandate to another platform without adhering to the provisions of the constitution. Those who defect must relinquish their mandate,” Ifoh emphasized.
The Labour Party’s firm stance signals its intent to hold defectors accountable and protect its mandate within the legislative arm of government.
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