Following criticism over a federal lawmaker’s recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports suggest that the ruling party is planning to attract more senators to its ranks, bolstering its presence in the Senate.
In the past week, Ajang Iliya, a member of federal constituency representing Jos South and Jos East in Plateau State, has switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This marks the sixth defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC.
Other defectors include;
Tochukwu Okere (Imo);.
Donatus Mathew (Kaduna);
Bassey Akiba (Cross River);
Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and;
Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
A source within the APC national secretariat disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune that discussions are ongoing with two of the five LP senators regarding their potential defection. While the source did not name the senators, it was revealed that they are from the South-East region.
“They have opened discussions with the APC zonal leadership. Their defection will be given the same fanfare at the party’s national secretariat, just as we warmly received late Ifeanyi Ubah when he left the Young Peoples Party (YPP),” the source explained.
The Nigerian Tribune further learned that out of the five LP senators, three hail from the South-East: Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu North), Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Tony Nwoye (Anambra North). The other two LP senators are Ireti Kingibe (Federal Capital Territory) and Neda Imasuen (Edo South).
It is worth noting that last June, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Imo East, left the LP for the APC. In his defection letter, read during a plenary session, he cited internal divisions within the opposition party as his reason for leaving.
The Senate
Currently, the Senate comprises;
63 APC lawmakers;
34 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP);
and two each from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP);
The LP holds five seats, bringing the total to 107.
Two seats remain vacant, including Edo Central, after Senator Monday Okpebholo assumed office as the Edo State governor. Additionally, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who represented Anambra South, passed away in July.
What Labour Party is Saying
Meanwhile, members of the Labour Party’s National Assembly caucus are set to hold a meeting at the National Assembly to address the ongoing defections and other pressing issues.
“We are meeting tomorrow (today) to review recent events in our party,” a federal lawmaker from the LP told the Nigerian Tribune. When asked if he was considering defection, he declined to confirm, stating, “I don’t know yet. I don’t think I want to discuss that for now.”
