The lawmaker representing Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in Delta State, under the platform of Labour Party, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, has urged the four lawmakers who recently defected from the the party to the All Progressives Congress to vacate their seats.
Etanabene emphasized that the law is clear on the matter, stating that the defectors should step down without further hesitation.
He pointed out that lawmakers should not switch parties without losing their seats, as the law stipulates that a division within the party must be established through the courts before such a move is allowed.
The four defectors—Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Akiba Bassey, and Esosa Iyawe—joined the APC on Thursday, as confirmed by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on the floor of the House.
The Labour Party has since vowed to declare their seats vacant in response.
Etanabene also referred to a recent court ruling affirming the legitimacy of the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the LP, which he believes further invalidates the defectors’ actions.
He stressed that in a well-disciplined society, lawmakers who switch parties should immediately vacate their positions.
“You were voted into office by this party and you’re now there, you now see the need to jump to another party.
“That matter does not need any explanation. They should have just packed their loads and left the assembly. That is the truth.
“That is the provision of the law. Why this was drafted into the law is to avoid situations like this. But I tell you, it happens every now and then and it is allowed in this country.
“If not, it is clear. If there’s no division in the party at the national level, you cannot go to another party jettisoning the party that elected you into office. It is clear. Division of the party must be established by court; it is not in the wings and caprices of anybody to postulate or assume a division.
“The court in Nigeria today, even when there were skirmishes of that a few months back, had said that the Julius Abure-led NWC is the authentic leadership of the party. Is there any order of the court contrary to that? I’m not aware.
“So, I don’t believe that what they did is right in the face of law. In a sane society where discipline runs, once that announcement was made yesterday, by today nobody should be sitting on their seats.
“I don’t think this leadership of the house will declare their seats vacant. It’s the trend that has been in place but we must continue to challenge that action in the eyes of the law.”
