‘One Or Two Senators May Succumb To Pressure’ – Labour Party Speaks On Fresh Defection Moves

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Obiorah Ifoh, has maintained that there was no division within the opposition party.

Naija News understands that Ifoh stated this amidst reports that two senators elected on the party’s platform are set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recall that last week, Ajang Iliya, who represents Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, announced his defection to the APC, becoming the sixth Labour Party (LP) lawmaker to leave the party. Other defectors include Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).

Speaking to Nigerian Tribune, Ifoh said the party was determined to retrieve, through constitutional means, its mandate from those who used its platform to secure seats at the National Assembly but have since jumped ship.

While he confirmed moves by certain senators to also defect to the APC, Ifoh said the national leadership of the party was watching the development and would resist it, using relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

He said: “After the general election, Labour Party won eight seats in the Senate and 35 seats in the House of Representatives. We, however, lost a senatorial seat through the courts.

“We have also seen about six members of the House of Representatives decamp. This is in spite of the provision of the 1999 Constitution, Section 68(g) that clearly states that for one to decamp, you must first drop the mandate given to the party.

“Though a proviso in the constitution stated that the lawmakers can change party where the party in which such one is elected has a crisis. However, the Labour Party has no crisis presently.

“The current leadership has been affirmed by the courts as valid and legitimate. Though a few of our leaders made attempt to infuse crisis but that was nipped with the help of the court.

“We have, however, challenged the defections in the court, asking that the members that defected should drop the mandate and vacate their seats as well as return all illegally received allowances and emoluments.

“As regards whether some senators will leave, the party is aware of pressures from the other parties to woo them. It is not impossible that one or two may succumb.

“But many of them have vowed their loyalty to the party leadership and we believe that common sense will prevail, particularly now that the party has clearly wriggled itself from the earlier hiccups. But for those who may wish to decamp, we will ensure that the provision of the constitution applies.”