The Labour Party (LP) has requested the court to declare vacant the seats of its lawmakers who have defected to other political parties.
This reaction followed the defection of Alfred Ajang Illiya, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). LP described Illiya’s move as disgraceful and shameful.
Illiya, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, attributed his defection to a leadership crisis within the Labour Party.
Similarly, another LP member, Daniel Chollom, also recently defected to the APC, citing the same leadership issues and expressing his intent to support the President in his efforts to develop the nation.
Four other LP members in the House of Representatives had earlier defected to the APC.
Reacting to these developments, LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, criticized Illiya’s decision, accusing him of betraying the trust of his constituents and the party.
In a statement, Ifoh said, “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 Party and the people of Plateau State entrusted with their collective hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable society through legislation.”
He added, “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.”
Ifoh emphasized that the law does not permit a lawmaker to defect without first relinquishing the mandate obtained under their original party.
“This defection, like similar ones before it, is quite unfortunate and condemnable,” he stated. He pointed to Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which specifies the conditions under which a lawmaker can defect and the consequences of such actions.
Ifoh also questioned why most defectors chose the APC and criticized the Speaker for not declaring the defectors’ seats vacant. He noted that defecting politicians have betrayed the trust of the people.
He concluded by confirming that LP has filed a lawsuit to compel the National Assembly to declare the defectors’ seats vacant and to recover all salaries, benefits, and privileges received by them since their defection.
