By Adadareporters
The six members of the Enugu State House of Assembly that decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party were never serious members of the Labour Party under which they were elected.
The chairman of the Guild of Public Affairs Analysts of Nigeria, Enugu State, Dr Ambrose Igboke, stated this during an interview. He said it was usual in the Nigeria politics, hence nobody should be bothered.
According to him, “The defection of the six Labour Party lawmakers to the PDP in Enugu State neither bothered nor surprised me. They were never serious LP members. As smart politicians, the Obidient Movement presented them a special purpose platform to actualize their political objectives and now, they have moved back to their bases.
“Unfortunately, that is the usual bizzare political practice in Nigeria. Politicians have no qualms cross-carpeting from one political party to another at the slightest excuse. The Labour Party in the 2023 elections was used by many defecting politicians to actualize their ambitions. The defection of Mr Peter Obi from PDP to the Labour Party gave it the national popularity and other politicians simply cashed in.
“For those who are pained, disappointed and angry by the defection of the six lawmakers from the labour party to the PDP in Enugu State House of Assembly, it is a hard lesson in Nigeria Politics.”
Recall that PDP became the majority in the Enugu State House of Assembly following the defection of the six lawmakers two weeks ago.
LP had after the 2023 general election won 14 seats in the state Assembly, making PDP the minority for the first time in the Enugu State Assembly. But with the recent defection, PDP now has 17 members while the LP has six members.
The defection notice was contained in a letter read by the speaker of the Assembly, Mr Uche Ugwu, during Thursday’s plenary. The defectors are the majority leader, Johnson Ani (Enugu North); the chief whip, Ejike Eze, (Igbo-Eze North 1); the deputy chief whip, Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural); Pius Ezugwu (Nsukka East); Williams Amuka (Igbo-Etiti West); and Osita Eze (Oji River).
They claimed their detection followed irreconcilable divisions and incessant crises within the LP at the national level and across all the state chapters.
They said it was regrettable that the party was witnessing discords, which were undermining their determination to deliver democratic dividends to their constituents.
They mentioned the cases of Julius Abure and Limido Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party. They expressed the hope that the PDP would provide them the conducive environment to continue serving their people’s interests.
