- Cites Leadership Crisis
By Abiola Olawale
The exodus of members rocking the Labour Party(LP) has continued amid internal crisis hitting the party .
This is as Hon Alfred Illiya Ajang, the lawmaker representing Jos South and East Federal Constituency of Plateau State at the House of Representatives announced his decision to dump the Labour Party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas who read Ajang’s letter during plenary on Thursday.
In the letter, the lawmaker claimed that the crisis in the Labour Party was the reason for his defection. After the letter was read by the Speaker, the House was thrown into a rowdy session as some lawmakers raised eyebrows over the content of the letter.
In his debate, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kingsley Chinda said the letter is not the constitution of the House and, as such, should be rejected.
He said as a standing order any member who wishes to defect must first inform his constituents and party members on the platform on which he was elected before any letter is read.
Chinda argued that since this criterion has not been met, the letter should not be admitted.
The speaker, however, overrode the observation.
The New Diplomat reports that the latest defection came after four members of the House of Representatives dumped the LP for the ruling party, citing squabbles in the Labour Party.
Following their defection, the LP threatened legal action, claiming their action was unconstitutional.
