June 22, (THEWILL) – The Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday, recorded its first seat in the National Assembly, as two more senators resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The defection of the two senators was disclosed in separate letters read by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary on Wednesday.
The Senator representing Imo East, Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, who was elected under the PDP, became the first LP lawmaker following his defection to the party.
Onyewuchi said that his defection to the LP would enable him to participate fully in the “new Nigeria movement.”
“I wish to inform Mr President and distinguished senators of my defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Labour Party.
“This is after due consultation with my family, constituents and supporters. This will enable me to participate fully in the movement for a new Nigeria”, Onyewuchi said in the letter.
Also on Wednesday, Haliru Jika, the senator who represents Bauchi Central senatorial district, joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
His official announcement was contained in a letter addressed to and read out by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at the start of plenary on Wednesday.
“I hereby wish to notify you of my defection from the APC to the NNPP whose ideals is in line with my political aspirations”, he simply said in his letter.
Jika was elected on the platform of the APC. He cited injustice and lack of equity in his former party as reasons for his defection.
These defections come barely 24 hours after the Senate President announced the defections of three senators – Francis Alimekhena (Edo North) and Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina North) who defected from the APC to the PDP and Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South) who left the APC to the NNPP.
Although the lawmakers had defected weeks ago, their letters were read out at the start of plenary on Wednesday.
The latest defections also come about a week after Mr Lawan read out similar defection letters from the former Senate leader, Yahaya Abdullahi and Adamu Aliero – both from Kebbi State.
The duo had cited crisis in the party as their reasons for leaving, but also accused the state governor, Atiku Bagudu, of frustrating the efforts of party members in the state.
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