A case that further puts the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary to test is underway as the Labour Party (LP) begins a legal process to challenge the defection of four of its lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The affected members of the House of Representatives are Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), and Iyawe Esosa (Edo).
The party expressed dissatisfaction with the lawmakers retaining their seats after joining the APC, describing their actions as contrary to democratic principles.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, had announced the defections during a plenary session, which further fueled LP’s decision to act.
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LP plans to pursue court orders to declare the seats vacant, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution that govern defections.
The party also announced the creation of a “Hall of Shame” to publicly identify defectors and other public officeholders accused of betraying the party’s mandate.
This registry, aimed at discouraging similar actions, will reportedly be published widely to hold the defectors accountable and inform the public about such behaviors.
The LP reiterated its stance against abandoning a party’s mandate without adhering to constitutional guidelines.
