The Labour Party (LP) has initiated legal action, urging the court to mandate the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of six House of Representatives members vacant following their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on Friday, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, emphasized that while the constitution guarantees freedom of association, it does not permit lawmakers to defect to another party with the mandate obtained under the Labour Party.
The party specifically expressed disappointment over the defection of Iliya Akangbe, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, describing his actions as a betrayal of the trust placed in him by his constituents and the party.
Highlighting the legal provisions, Ifoh pointed to Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates the conditions under which lawmakers can defect and the consequences of such actions.
He criticized the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for failing to uphold the constitution by not declaring the defectors’ seats vacant.
The LP also condemned the broader trend of defections, questioning why most defectors gravitate toward the APC.
According to the party, these actions expose such politicians as untrustworthy and undeserving of public confidence.
In addition to demanding the vacant seats, the Labour Party’s lawsuit seeks the return of all salaries, emoluments, and privileges received by the defectors since the date of their defection.
Iliya’s defection was announced during a plenary session on Thursday, with the lawmaker citing internal crises within the Labour Party as his reason for leaving.
Similar reasons were given by other defectors, including Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
The Labour Party maintains that such defections undermine the trust of the electorate and called for urgent judicial intervention to restore accountability and adherence to constitutional provisions.
