The All Progressives Congress (APC) States Assembly Forum (ASAF) has announced that it will not yet recognize the 27 Rivers State House of Assembly members who abandoned the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the opposition APC. The ASAF, which serves as the umbrella body of APC state assembly members, made this decision during an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the forum discussed the status of the newly-defected lawmakers, ultimately deciding to delay their recognition due to ongoing legal challenges regarding their defection. Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, the Director General of the forum, stated that ASAF would not rush to admit the defected lawmakers but appreciated their decision to join the APC.
Ambassador Dagogo emphasized that ASAF would be willing to accept the lawmakers, as well as other defectors from different states, but only under conditions that guarantee credibility and transparency.
Moreover, Ambassador Dagogo appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the crisis in Rivers State in order to safeguard the nation’s democracy. He expressed gratitude for the recent efforts made by the President to restore peace in the state.
The delay in recognizing the defected lawmakers highlights the cautious approach taken by the ASAF in the face of legal challenges and the importance placed on transparent proceedings. As the situation in Rivers State continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the defected lawmakers will gain the recognition they seek from the APC.
