…Tasks Nigerians to end careers of ‘Jumpology’ politicians
The leadership of the Labour Party has announced the creation of a “Hall of Shame” register for lawmakers and elected officials who defect from the party.
The move follows the recent defection of several Labour Party lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly.
Obiora Ifoh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, expressed the party’s dissatisfaction with the defections, which he described as “irrational” and “alien” to democratic norms.
He named the defected lawmakers, including Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau), who formally announced their switch to APC in a letter read out by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Ifoh cited Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which restricts lawmakers from defecting to another party without justification, and emphasized that the defections were against the party’s interests.
He stressed that the Labour Party had always been committed to internal democracy and had consistently advocated for the proper use of mandates given by voters.
He reminded the public of the Labour Party’s achievements, including winning one governorship seat, eight Senate seats, and 35 House of Representatives seats in the 2023 general election, as well as numerous state Assembly seats.
The party also had a strong showing in the presidential race, which many Nigerians believed they had won.
While acknowledging some internal pressures after the election, Ifoh reassured that the party had resolved these issues and was now united, with no major crises.
He declared that no member elected under the Labour Party’s banner had any constitutional protection to defect, as the party had already moved past its challenges and was at peace.
Ifoh also recalled the tragic assassination of Labour Party Women Leader, Victoria Chintex, in 2022, while she was campaigning for the party.
He accused Donatus Mathew, a defector, of disrespecting Chintex’s memory and betraying the party members who had supported him.
In response to the defections, the Labour Party vowed to pursue legal action against the defectors, with plans to challenge the validity of their continued positions.
The party’s legal team has been instructed to begin the process of regaining the mandates lost due to the defections, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act.
Additionally, the Labour Party will seek for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare the seats held by the defectors vacant, arguing that they no longer represent their constituencies legally.
