Amid growing criticism over the recent defection of a federal lawmaker to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports suggest that the ruling party is working to secure additional lawmakers from the Senate in a bid to strengthen its position in the Red Chamber....TAP TO READ THE FULL CONTENT | TAP TO READ THE FULL CONTENT
Last week, Ajang Iliya, the representative for Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, announced his defection to the APC, making him the sixth lawmaker from the Labour Party (LP)
to leave the opposition. Other defectors include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
A source within the APC national secretariat, speaking anonymously toThe Nigerian Tribune, revealed that the party is in discussions with two of the five LP senators about potentially joining the APC. Although the identities of the senators were not disclosed, the source indicated that both are from the South-East region.
“Discussions are ongoing with the APC zonal leadership, and should they join, their defection will be celebrated in the same manner as we did when Senator Ifeanyi Ubah left the Young Peoples Party (YPP) to join our fold,” the source explained.
TheNigerian Tribunealso learned that three of the five LP senators are from the South-East: Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu North), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North). The remaining two LP senators are Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory) and Neda Imasuen (Edo South).
This push to attract more LP senators comes on the heels of the defection of Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, who represented Imo East. Onyewuchi left the LP for the APC in June, citing internal divisions within the opposition party as the reason for his departure. His defection was formally announced during a plenary session, signaling a growing trend of discontent within the LP.
As it stands, the APC holds 63 seats in the Senate, while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 34 seats. The New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) each have two seats, and the Labour Party holds five seats. Two Senate seats remain vacant, including that of Edo Central, following the assumption of office by Senator Monday Okpebholo as the Edo State governor. Additionally, the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South, in July has also contributed to the vacancies.
In response to the ongoing defections, members of the Labour Party’s National Assembly caucus are scheduled to meet to discuss the crisis and other urgent matters. A federal lawmaker from the LP toldThe Nigerian Tribunethat the caucus meeting would address the recent defections and strategize for the future.
“We are meeting tomorrow (today) to review recent events in our party,” the lawmaker said. When asked whether he was considering following the path of his colleagues and defecting to another party, the lawmaker was non-committal, stating, “I don’t know yet. I don’t think I want to discuss that for now.”
The defections and ongoing power struggle within the National Assembly highlight the fluid political landscape in Nigeria, as parties jostle for influence ahead of upcoming elections and key legislative decisions.
