Just In: Another Labour Party Lawmaker Defects To APC In House Of Reps

Fom Dalyop Chollom, representing the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau State, has defected from the opposition Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria’s House of Representatives.

Chollom’s defection was announced in a letter read during plenary by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. In the letter, Chollom explained that the Labour Party’s internal conflicts had made it challenging for him to align with any faction, ultimately hindering his ability to serve effectively. He expressed his belief that joining the APC would allow him to better serve the interests of his constituents.

In response, Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi criticized the defectors, accusing them of lacking ideological commitment. He also called for Chollom’s seat to be declared vacant, stating that those leaving the party were abandoning their principles.

Chollom, while expressing gratitude to the Labour Party for providing him the platform to contest, emphasized that his decision to join the APC was motivated by the desire to support the President and contribute to the delivery of democratic dividends to Nigerians.

Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, however, raised concerns about the procedural correctness of the defection, arguing that Chollom should have first resigned from the Labour Party at his ward level and presented evidence of his resignation before submitting his defection letter to the House. Chinda called for the seat of the defecting lawmaker to be declared vacant if the proper procedures were not followed.

Ozodinobi further condemned the defection trend, stressing that there was no leadership crisis in the Labour Party and that the lawmaker’s decision to leave after less than seven months was a disservice to the House.

Ozodinobi said: “Those defecting are people without ideology. I am worried by the rate of defecu when there is no crisis in the Labour Party. I am very sorry for these members and I am very sorry for the APC because you will not earn their trust.

“I want to say that his seat must be declared vacant and we will do everything possible to ensure that is done.”

On December 5, five lawmakers of the Labour Party (LP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

They are Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).

Also, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta), a lawmaker and daughter of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

The now-former Labour Party lawmakers cited division within their party as the main reason for their defection.

After over 20 years of its formation, pro-workers political organisation, Labour Party made inroads into mainstream politics during the 2023 elections as the party got six Senate and over 34 House of Representatives seats.

Compared to its phenomenal stride in the 2023 elections, the LP did not get a single seat in the 2019 National Assembly elections.

With the party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi coming third during the poll, many had thought that the Labour Party would form a formidable opposition alongside the PDP against the ruling APC but intra-party squabbles after the general elections have plagued the party.