The Labour Party(LP) has strongly condemned the defection of five of its lawmakers in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a betrayal of the party’s values and the trust of the electorate.
The defectors that included Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau announced their defection in letters read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Wednesday’s plenary session.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party denounced the defections as unconstitutional, pointing to Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that lawmakers elected on a party’s platform must relinquish their seats if they defect without just cause, such as a division within the party.
The party emphasized that it is not facing any internal crisis that could justify the defections, noting that it has resolved past issues through internal and legal mechanisms. “The Labour Party is at peace.
There is no constitutional protection for these lawmakers to abandon the party along with its mandate,” the statement declared.
The party also highlighted its achievements in the 2023 general elections, where it secured significant wins, including a governorship seat, eight Senate seats, and 35 House of Representatives seats, largely due to its grassroots approach and commitment to democratic ideals.
The Labour Party accused the defectors of abandoning the grassroots movement that gave them victory.
It recalled how the party opened its doors to ordinary Nigerians, offering free membership and nomination forms to those who could not afford the fees charged by other parties.
Special criticism was directed at Donatus Mathew, a former Okada rider from Kaduna, who cited being the only Labour Party member in the Northwest as his reason for defecting.
The party called his actions a betrayal of the late Victoria Chintex, a Labour Party Women Leader in Kaduna who was assassinated while working to ensure Mathew’s victory.
“Hon. Mathew has dishonored Chintex’s memory and the thousands who sacrificed for his success,” the statement said.
The Labour Party announced it would take legal action to reclaim the seats of the defecting lawmakers and petition the Speaker of the House of Representatives to declare their seats vacant in accordance with the law.
Additionally, the party has established a ‘Hall of Shame’ to document defectors and future violators of party loyalty. Those already included are:
1. Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Imo East)
2. Rep. Bassey Akiba (Calabar Municipality/Odukpani)
3. Rep. Tochukwu Okere (Owerri Federal Constituency)
4. Rep. Donatus Mathew (Kaura Federal Constituency)
5. Rep. Iyawe Esosa (Oredo Federal Constituency)
6. Rep. Daulyop Fom (Plateau)
The Labour Party called on Nigerians to hold these lawmakers accountable and reject them in future elections.
“These politicians lack democratic integrity and have shown a dangerous tendency to prioritize personal gain over public service. It is essential to isolate them and end their mercenary political careers,” the statement urged.