LP asks court to declare defectors’ seats vacant

The Labour Party, LP, says it has asked the court to declare the seats of its lawmakers who defected to other political parties vacant.

LP was reacting to the defection of a lawmaker from Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Alfred Ajang Illiya, which it described as shameful.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, Illiya blamed the leadership crisis within the LP for his defection to APC.

Two days ago, another LP member, Daniel Chollom, defected to the APC.

Chollom, in a letter read during plenary by the Speaker, cited the Labour Party’s leadership crisis and his desire to support the President in national development as reasons for his decision.

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Four other members of the House of Representatives from the LP had earlier defected to the APC.

Reacting to the development, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said Iliya brought dishonour to himself by defecting to APC.

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.

“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 added that the law does not protect an individual who steals the mandate of a political party only to run to another party without “first surrendering the mandate he deceitfully acquired”.

He added: “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.

“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 filled 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.”