The member representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Abiola Peter Makinde has defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His defection was announced through a letter read by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, at plenary on Tuesday.
- Plateau university workers begin indefinite strike
- We saw hell in captivity — Freed Niger passengers
Reading the letter, Gbajabiamila quoted the lawmaker as saying that he left his former party due to a protracted leadership crisis and other issues.
However, a member of the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, objected to the defection, saying that defections were being done without recourse to the specific provisions of the law.
He said reasons for defections should be based on facts as required by the law.
Citing relevant sections of the Constitution, Ossai said unless cogent and established reasons were given by members defecting to other parties, their defections were null and void.
However, the Speaker said the reason for Hon Makinde’s defection from his former party is clearly stated in the letter.
Rep. Makinde’s defection brought to three, the number of members who defected in less than two weeks.
Rep. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi left the Peoples Redemption Party (Bauchi, PRP) and former Senate President, Senator David Mark’s daughter, Rep. Blessing Onu (Benue, APGA) had last week left their former parties and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
