The Labour Party (LP) has announced that it will take legal action against lawmakers elected on its platform who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, confirmed that the lawmakers—Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe—had crossed over to the ruling party, citing an “internal crisis” within the LP.
In a statement, Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s spokesperson, said the party would pursue legal action against the defectors.
The party condemned their actions as “inconsistent with democratic norms” and in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution, particularly Section 68(g), which governs defections by elected representatives.
The LP emphasised that the defections could only be legally justified in the event of a division within the party or a merger.
The party also urged Abbas to declare the lawmakers’ seats empty, claiming that their continuing tenure was “illegal.”
“The defection is, to us, quite unfortunate, and we condemn this irrational, untenable, inconsistent action, which is alien to all the norms democracy stands for,” the statement read.
“Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution is clear on when defections are permitted and the consequences for lawmakers who switch parties.”
The Constitution states that (g) a member whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party must not become a member of another political party before the expiration of the term for which they were elected, unless this is due to a division within their original party or a merger of parties or factions.
“Although the Labour Party leadership remains undeterred by the defection, it has decided not to let this pass and has therefore instructed its legal team to initiate legal action against the defectors.
“The party will also begin the process of regaining its mandates in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and the amended 2022 Electoral Act.
“We will also approach the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare the seats held by these former Labour Party members vacant in accordance with the House Rules.
“It is inappropriate and unacceptable for these lawmakers to continue to represent their constituencies illegally.”
The party has also resolved to create a ‘Hall of Shame’ register for these parliamentarians and any other elected figure who engages in fraudulent defections without first giving up the mandate earned through the party’s ticket.
The defected lawmakers will feature prominently in this register.
