The Labour Party has announced its intention to take legal action against four of its House of Representatives members who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The four members—Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe—made the move official on Thursday, with Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas confirming the shift. Abbas cited “internal crisis” within the Labour Party as the key reason behind their decision to leave.
According to the Speaker, the defection was prompted by disagreements and challenges within the Labour Party, suggesting that the party was facing internal turmoil. “Internal crisis” was noted as the motivating factor for the shift in allegiance, though Abbas did not provide specifics regarding the nature of the issues that led to the defection.
In response to the defections, the Labour Party has been vocal in its displeasure, disputing the legitimacy of the move. The party’s spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, strongly condemned the actions of the defecting members, stating that no individual has the right to take the party’s mandate with them. “Though the Labour Party leadership is undaunted by the defection, it has, however, elected not to allow it to slide,” Ifoh declared in an official statement.
Ifoh further clarified that the party had already instructed its legal team to initiate proceedings against the defectors, with the aim of recovering the mandates. “We have therefore instructed our legal team to commence legal actions against the defectors and to also commence the process of regaining our mandates in line with the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act as amended,” he said. This action reflects the party’s firm stance on the matter and its commitment to maintaining its rightful representation in the House.
The Labour Party is relying on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, which it believes protect the party’s mandate. Ifoh emphasized that these legal frameworks provide a solid foundation for the party’s move to reclaim the seats held by the defectors. “There is absolute peace in the Labour Party. Therefore, no one elected on the ticket of the Labour Party has the constitutional protection to decamp from the party along with the party’s mandate,” Ifoh asserted.
The defection has sparked debate within Nigerian political circles, with many questioning the motivations behind such moves. While the APC has welcomed the new members, there have been mixed reactions from the public and other political parties, who view the defections as a sign of instability in the Labour Party.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Labour Party is bracing for a prolonged battle over the defection. The party’s legal team is expected to challenge the legitimacy of the defections in court, while the APC stands by the decision of its new members to join their ranks.
