Defection: Nasarawa Assembly declares member’s seat vacant

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday declared vacant, the seat of a member representing Wamba constituency, Makpa Malla, for dumping the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declining mentioning his new party.

Speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, who read the member’s defection letter, said he wanted the matter to be investigated, but members insisted that Malla’s seat must be declared vacant.

The speaker declared Malla’s seat vacant after a motion moved by House Majority Leader Tanko Tunga and seconded by Deputy Majority Leader Daniel Oga Ogazi.

The speaker directed the clerk to communicate the development to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

When contacted, Malla, described the action as a contempt of court, saying

“I defected from APC based on the faction that was created in the party, the R-APC. I have a proof of the court service to the house.”