Defection: Adamawa Assembly declares lawmaker’s seat vacant

The Adamawa State House of Assembly has declared the seat of Mr Joseph Ayuba (PDP-Michika) vacant for defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This followed the adoption of a motion by the deputy speaker, Mr Pwamwakeno Mackondo, at the plenary on Wednesday.

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Presenting the motion, Mackondo said the lawmaker must forfeit his seat for defecting from the party on which platform he was elected.

He said that by virtue of the provisions of Section 109 1(G) of the Constitution, Ayuba’s seat had become vacant.

The Speaker, Mr Aminu Abbas, thereafter declared the lawmaker’s seat vacant after the motion was adopted by all the 13 lawmakers present.

While reacting, Ayuba described the decision as unjust.

“The decision by the House to declare my seat vacant is an injustice because I didn’t officially declare my defection or present any formal letter that I defected to APC.

“However, I leave the whole issue to my party to decide,” he said.