29 Reps defections take APC members to 280
By Tony Akowe and Sanni Onogu The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday further enlarged its coast in the House of Representatives. The number of lawmakers on the platform of the
By Tony Akowe and Sanni Onogu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday further enlarged its coast in the House of Representatives.
The number of lawmakers on the platform of the ruling party increased to 280, following the defection of 14 opposition members into the fold.
Also yesterday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared vacant three senatorial seats, following the death of the occupants - Okey Ezea (Enugu North), Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North) and Baribada Mpigi (Rivers Southeast).
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the vacancies within 90 days.
Jiya dumps PDP
Senatir Peter Jiya (Niger South) defected from thecPDP to the APC, citing the dicision in the opposition party for leaving. All Progressives Congress (APC).
His letter of defection was also read during plenary by Akpabio.
29 lawmakers switch parties
Although 14 of 29 members who switched camp went into the APC, the party also lost two members to the opposition.
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas stepped down the letter of intention to defect from another lawmaker for lack of clarity.
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There was drama at plenary over a defection letter by Sani Yakubu Noma (PDP Sokoto), who stated that he was defecting to the African Democratic Congress, based on his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose leadership has continued to pursue economic recovery for the country.
Abbas, who presided over plenary, said the letter was contradictory, adding that the content was suggestive of his intention to join the APC instead of ADC.
Following the gale of defections, PDP now has 37 members in Lower Chamber; the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has 17; Labour Party (LP) 11; and the NNPP, which initially had 18, has five while Accord Party and the APP each has two.
During the inauguration of the House on June, 23 2023, the APC had about 181 members while the opposition parties had 179. Of the number, PDP had 115.
However, due to the defections, ADC gained eight new members, Accord Party gained two, All Peoples Party (APP) gained two while the LP gained one member.
Deputy Spokesman of the House, Phillip Agbese, who left APC for LP, attributed his decision to the protracted crisis in Benue State.
He became the lawmaker was the first to dump the ruling party fir a minority party.
Other lawmakers whose letters of defection were read are Ademola Akani and Lanre Oladebo Omoleye (from PDP to Accord), Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP Imo) and Anthony Nwogu (LP- Imo) to Action Peoples Party).
House Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinnobi led the defectors to the ADC from the LP.
Other defectors to the ADC are Harris Uchenna (LP, Anambra), Yahaya Tongo (PDP Gombe), Oluwaseyi Sowumi George Olawande (LP, Lagos), Aliyu Mustapha Abdullahi (APC, Kaduna), Mani Maishinko (PDP, Sokoto), Abdulsamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), Bashir Usman Goro (PDP, Sokoto) and Umar Yusuf Yabo (PDP, Sokoto).
Defectors from NNPP to APC are Mustapha Ghali Tijani, Mohammed Umar Shehu, Dankwa Idris, Hassan Shehu, Tanimu Yusuf, Mohammed Ciroma, Sani Madaki, Tijani Jobe.
Others who joined the APC are Ja’afaru Yakubu (PDP, Taraba), Sadiq Tafida (PDP, Taraba), Ibrahim Mohammed (PDP, Kebbi) and Hassan Shinkafi.
Sani Madaki who was until his defection the Deputy Minority leader of the House said he left the NNPP due to its protracted crisis that led to litigations.
‘Why three Senate seats are vacant’
Akpabio said the vacancies created by the senators’ demise would be communicated to INEC, which is expected to conducted by-elections.
He said they were declared vacant “in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.”
Akpabio said by-elections should be conducted so that the districts are not left without representation.
He urged the electoral body to conduct polls within 90 days “in line with due process.”
Akpabio, who paid tribute to the deceased lawmakers, prayed for the repose of their souls.
He said: “For those who have departed, we pray that their souls rest in perfect peace.”
