JUST-IN: Four lawmakers defect to APC from LP, PDP

Four members of the House of Representatives have officially defected from the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers include Tochukwu Okere (Imo State), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna State), Bassey Akiba (Cross River State), Iyawu Esosa Edo, and Erthiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta State).

The announcement was made by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Thursday’s plenary session.

Following the defections, Minority Whip Ali Isah JC (PDP-Gombe) called on the Speaker to declare the seats of the defectors vacant, citing Section 68(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which outlines conditions for forfeiture of legislative seats upon party defection.

However, Speaker Abbas countered the request, noting that the minority whip did not fully reference the constitutional provisions required to support his argument.

Further developments on the issue are expected as lawmakers and legal experts weigh in on the constitutional implications of the defections.