The Labour Party (LP) has announced its intention to declare the seats of five House of Representatives members vacant following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obiorah Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, made this announcement in a statement released on Thursday.
According to reports from Daily Sun, the defecting LP lawmakers include Chinedu Okere (Owerri municipal/Owerri north/Owerri west constituency, Imo State), Mathew Donatus (Kaura federal constituency, Kaduna State), Akiba Bassey (Calabar municipal/Odukpani federal constituency, Cross River State), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo federal constituency, Edo State), who have joined the ruling APC.
Ifoh criticized the lawmakers’ actions as “irrational and untenable,” asserting that their decision automatically results in the loss of their legislative seats. He indicated that the party would pursue legal action to reclaim the mandate held by these lawmakers and would formally request the House Speaker to declare their seats vacant in accordance with House regulations.
He stated, “The Labour Party leadership is disheartened by the news of some lawmakers’ defection to the ruling APC. The members involved include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau). Their defection letter was presented on the floor of the Green Chamber by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.”
Ifoh expressed disappointment, calling the defections unfortunate and condemning the actions as inconsistent with democratic principles. He referenced Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the consequences of a lawmaker leaving the party that sponsored their election.
He explained, “The Constitution makes it clear that a representative sponsored by a political party cannot join another party before their term is completed unless there has been a division or merger within the original party.”
Since its establishment in 2002, the Labour Party has been an active player in Nigeria’s political landscape, achieving significant successes in the 2023 general elections under Barrister Julius Abure’s leadership, including a governorship seat, eight Senate seats, and 35 House of Representatives seats. The party also made notable gains in state House of Assembly elections and generated substantial support during the presidential election.
Ifoh asserted, “While other major parties grapple with their own issues, the Labour Party has resolved its challenges and is now at peace. Therefore, no elected official representing the Labour Party can legally defect while retaining the party’s mandate.”
He further emphasized that it is both inappropriate and unacceptable for these lawmakers to continue serving as representatives of their constituencies under false pretenses. The party also announced the creation of a “Hall of Shame” to publicly register any lawmakers who defect without relinquishing their mandates.
