By Kolawole Ojebisi
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, strengthened its numerical advantage in the House of Representatives.
This is as another member of the opposition Labour Party, Sunday Umahia, dumped the party for the APC.
Umehia, representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency of Enugu State, attributed his decision to leave the LP to the elongated crisis that has given rise to three different factions laying claim to the leadership of the party.
The lawmaker disclosed this in his letter of defection read at the plenary by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen.
According to the letter, Umahia said he decided to defect because, “Senator Nenadi Usman, Barrister Julius Abure and Alhaji Lamidi Apapa have continued to lay claim to the leadership of the LP, while members are at a loss as to who they should defer to”.
He added that,” he has resolved to join the APC and team up with the President to provide leadership for the country and the South-East in particular”.
Meanwhile, the decision does not sit well with the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.
While expressing his displeasure, Chinda said, “the constant defection of legislators is making a mockery of democratic rule in Nigeria”, saying the practice in the parliament appears confusing.
According to him, the time has come to take another look at the constitutional provision on defection and amend it to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
Chinda asked the Speaker to exercise his constitutional power and declare the seat of the defectors vacant.
Speaking further, the minority leader urged the Supreme Court to an end to the leadership crisis in the Labour Party so that crisis can no longer be relied upon for defection.
He also drew attention of the House to its standing order especially as it deals with the leadership of House Standing Committees, which provides that leadership of committees are appointed on party basis.
Chinda said those who have defected should be made to vacate their leadership position in committees.
