A House of Representatives member of the Labour Party (LP) from Enugu State, Sam Atu, yesterday announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmaker cited the prolonged leadership crisis in the LP as the main reason for his action.
In a letter read at plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Atu said he was ditching the LP after a holistic consultation with his constituents and other stakeholders.
The lawmaker said the persistent crisis at the state and national levels of the party had debarred him from offering constructive representation to his people.
Atu added that he decided to pitch his tent with the APC and align with the ruling party’s Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in view of the determination of the President to develop the Southeast, as exemplified by the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
But House Minority Whip Ali Isa JC asked the Speaker to declare Atu’s seat vacant, alleging that his defection contravened Section 68(1g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
