Drama As Labour Party Vows To Sue Four Lawmakers Over Defection To APC

The Labour Party has vowed to challenge the recent defection of four of its House of Representatives members to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as unconstitutional.

The lawmakers—Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe—were announced as defectors by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, during Thursday’s plenary. Abbas cited an “internal crisis” within the Labour Party as their reason for leaving.

Reacting to the development, the Labour Party’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed claims of any internal crisis within the party and asserted that those elected on the party’s platform cannot constitutionally defect to another party while retaining their mandates.

In a statement, Ifoh said: “Though the Labour Party leadership is undaunted by the defection, it has decided not to let it slide. The party has instructed its legal team to initiate legal proceedings against the defectors and begin the process of reclaiming our mandates in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act as amended.

“There is absolute peace in the Labour Party. Therefore, no one elected on the party’s ticket has the constitutional protection to decamp and take the party’s mandate with them.”

The party has reiterated its commitment to holding its representatives accountable to the mandates given to them by the electorate and ensuring that constitutional provisions guiding political party membership are respected.