ABUJA: Four members of the House of Representatives defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from their respective parties. The lawmakers include Rep. Tochukwu Okere from Imo State (Labour Party), Rep. Donatus Mathew from Kaduna State (Labour Party), Rep. Bassey Akiba from Cross River State (Labour Party), and Rep. Iyawu Esosa Edo and Rep. Erthiatake Ibori-Suenu from Delta State (Peoples Democratic Party).
The defection was officially announced by Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House, during plenary.
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In response, the Minority Whip, Ali Isah JC (PDP-Gombe), urged the Speaker to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant, citing Section 68(1) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
However, the Speaker responded by pointing out that the lawmaker had failed to quote the entire section relevant to his request.
