March 17, 2024

The Labour Party (LP) has warned lawmakers elected on its platform in the Enugu State House of Assembly that their seats would be declared vacant if they go ahead to defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The LP’s warning followed reported plans by seven members of the legislature elected on the platform of the party to dump the party for the PDP.

Although it is still unclear what prompted the LP lawmakers to ditch the party, it was gathered that the members were planning to defect to the ruling PDP to solidify their seats for a possible second term.

Sources said that the defection party has been slated to take place inside the Enugu State Government House at a later date.

It was gathered that one of the defectors, Honorable Osita Eze, representing Oji River State Constituency had already written to his LP ward chairman concerning his planned defection.

Other members reported in the defection plan include Ejike Eze, Igboeze North 2; Pius Ezugwu, Nsukka West Constituency and Chukwu Ani, Enugu North constituency.

But, reacting to the development, the chairman of the Labour Party (LP), in Enugu Barrister Casmir Agbo, said that the party would approach all levels of the courts in the country to ensure that the seats of the defectors were declared vacant.

The chairman blamed the situation on the personal ambition of the legislators rather than the collective good of their respective constituents.

According to him, after the party lost two cases at the appeal court the number of LP legislators reduced to eleven while that of PDP increased to twelve.

“So, LP legislators holding positions now feel threatened should there be any change in the leadership of the house and hence decided to join the PDP to retain their positions,” he said.