The rank of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the National Assembly increased yesterday as it received two members who defected to join the party
While the senator representing Imo East senatorial district (Owerri zone), Ezenwa Onyewuchi, formally announced his resignation from the Labour Party (LP) and eventual defection to the APC, at the red chambers, a member of the House of Representatives, Idris Salman representing Ijimu/Kabba Bunu Federal Constituency of Kogi state, similarly defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Onyewuchi’s defection has long been rumoured as he has been severally seen to be romancing with the APC in Imo state, joining in all activities by the state governor, Hope Uzodimma.
The Imo east senator in his letter, which was read on the floor of the red chamber by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, said his decision is due to the intractable division and crisis in the Labour Party that sponsored his earlier election into the Nigerian Senate.
Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, was present in the chamber when the letter was read.
The Imo senator based his communication on Section 68(1g) of the constitution.
“The communication is therefore made pursuant to Section 68(1g) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“Imo state and the entirety of the south-east remain united under the leadership of our performing governor, his excellency, Hope Uzodimma.”
Responding to Senator Ezenwa’s defection, a joyous Senate president, Akpabio directed the sergeant-at-arms to hand him a new seat on the aisle of the majority lawmakers.
Senator Ezenwa’s defection has reduced the number of LP senators in the upper legislative chamber five
Also, Hon. Idris Salman representing Ijimu/Kabba Bunu Federal Constituency of Kogi state, whose defection was announced by the Speaker of the House, Rep Tajudeen Abbas during plenary in Abuja, was rejected by the Minority Whip, Hon. Ali Isa, who in raising a point of order, said that the seat of Rep Salman be declared vacant according to the constitution.
“The seat of any House of Reps member or Senator Should be declared vacant if he or she defects from his party to another party,” the Minority Chief Whip argued. He was however ruled out of order by the Speaker