By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Lagos state House of Assembly has denied reports making the rounds that 27 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the Labour Party (LP).
The legislature refuted the purported defection in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ogundipe Olukayode, chairman of the house committee on information, strategy and security.
Olukayode stresssed that the APC remains “united and focused”. He said reports of the “mass defection” from the ruling APC is “riddled with inaccuracies and outright falsehoods”.
“The Lagos state house of assembly wishes to categorically debunk the malicious and unfounded publication alleging that twenty-seven members of the assembly are planning to defect from the ruling party to the opposition Labour Party (LP). This publication is entirely false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public,” the statement reads.
“We find this report not only offensive but also riddled with inaccuracies and outright falsehoods that serves no purpose other than to sow discord and confusion within the assembly and among the good people of Lagos state.
“The recent developments in the house, including the removal of the erstwhile speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and the election of Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the new Speaker, are purely internal matters. These actions were carried out in accordance with the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The statement said the recent struggle over the leadership of the house does not suggest any intention by members to leave the party.
“We emphasize, without any ambiguity, that no member of the assembly is contemplating defection,” the statement added.
“We were elected under the leadership of the ruling party, The ruling party remains united and focused on delivering its mandate to the people of Lagos state. The falsehood being spread originates from agents of destabilization who seek to create unnecessary tension and division within the assembly.”
