Two members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They are the Majority Leader, Olugbenga Araoyinbo, representing Akoko North-West Constituency 2 and ex-Acting Speaker, Malachi Coker, representing Ilaje Constituency 2.
The lawmakers said their defection became imperative after consultations with their constituents.
They said it would give their constituents more democracy dividends, promising to work with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to develop the state.
PDP and APC now have 13 legislators each.
The defectors hailed Akeredolu for his achievements.
The Speaker, Bamidele Oleyelogun, described the lawmakers as tested politicians, whose defection would add value to APC.
Receiving the members on behalf of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the state Deputy Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, who is happy about the development, hoped APC would control the House before the year ends.
He said the party would not discriminate against anyone, as every member would be rewarded based on his performance.
Adetimehin passed a vote of confidence in Akeredolu for his laudable performance less than two months in office.
The governor, who thanked God Almighty for His mercy and protection over the people, said a lot is happening in the party.
According to him, APC which started with only five lawmakers, now has 13 legislators.
He described the development as a good omen and praised the legislators for defecting to APC.
Tag: PDP lawmakers
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Two PDP lawmakers defect to APC in Ondo
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Six Lagos PDP lawmakers join APC
It started as a rumour last week and was denied by those concerned. But yesterday, it became a reality as six of the eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The letter of defection, jointly signed by five lawmakers, was read in the House by the Acting Clerk, Azeez Sanni.
They said they were defecting because of the division, infighting and factionalisation of the PDP.
“The nation cannot develop under a fractured PDP, no clear vision, ambition and policy and we can’t serve two masters.
“The division in the party is hampering it from fulfilling its goals.
“The success story of Lagos State and the House’s leadership style also informed our defection to further serve our constituents better and deliver on the promises made,” the letter read.
The lawmakers are Minority Whip Mrs. Sangodara Mosumola Rotimi (Surulere 2); Famakinwa Adedayo Olufemi (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1); Oluwa Olatunji Fatai (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 2); Sokunle Hakeem (Oshodi/Isolo 1) and Idimogun Jude Emeka (Oshodi/Isolo 2).
In a dramatic twist, the sixth member, the Minority leader, Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin 2), announced his defection when he was given an opportunity to contribute to the debate.
Each of the defectors was given a chance to speak. They acknowledged that they wrote and signed the letter.
Sangodara said: “I decided to join the winning team to serve my constituents better. We are all aware of what is happening in the PDP, it is not good enough to be part of the disharmony going on in the PDP.”
Famakinwa said: “My decision to quit the PDP is borne out of the monumental achievements recorded by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. I oversee the Establishment ministry and I can tell you the governor does not owe pensioners. That in itself is a great achievement.”
Oluwa said: “I am moving to the APC due to the fracas and division in my former party and also because of the leadership style of the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and Governor Ambode.”
Idimogun said: “I appreciate the relationship in the House; Ambode is very kind to me and my constituency. He has treated us without bias, and there is no other way to reward him but to join him in taking Lagos forward. APC for me is a better wife now. My kinsmen, the Ibo, have been looking on to me to carry them to the winning team, which is APC”.
Shokunle said: “APC is a good party and I want to align with it.”
After they spoke, the Speaker instructed the remaining 35 lawmakers to stand while the defectors remain seated to welcome them formally, promising that the party leadership will still welcome them at a later date.
Obasa raised a song and was joined by other members. The song was: “You are welcome in the name of the Lord (twice), we can see all over you the glory of the Lord, you are welcome in the name of the Lord”. They took the chorus twice.
All the APC members hailed the courage of the five defectors for recognising that PDP was a sinking ship.
A PDP member, Victor Akande (Ojo 1) congratulated the Speaker for “your doggedness and what you stand for. I am very happy to be part of this Eighth Assembly at a time when we have a performing governor”.
“To my former party members I congratulate you and wish you all you desire to gain in your political journey. Whatever has happened here is a lesson for my party to do the needful and get itself right. It is good, it is democracy at work, we are not going to waiver, we will stand and God will help us”, Akande said.
The other PDP lawmaker, Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo Odofin 1) , also hailed the Speaker for his leadership style and courage in winning over the six former PDP members .
“I appreciate your style of leadership and other principal officers.”
Obasa praised his colleagues for the achievement, saying without them the achievement wouldn’t have been possible.
“No matter the party we belong we have resolved to put before us the people of Lagos.
He told the remaining two PDP members that APC was waiting for them, whenever they decide to defect.
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Six Lagos Assembly PDP lawmakers set for APC
Six of the eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly are set to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sources close to the lawmakers said the planned defection is a done deal, after months of horse trading and negotiations.
The members of the PDP in the Assembly include Minority Leader Hon. Akeem Bello (Amuwo Odofin y 2), Minority Whip Hon. Mosunmola Sangodara (Surulere 2), Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo Odofin 1) and Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo 1).
Others are Hon. Akeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1), Hon. Jude Idimogu (Oshodi/Isolo 1), Hon. Dayo Famakinwa, (Ajeromi/ Ifelodun 2) and Hon. Oluwa Fatai (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1).
The lawmakers are also complaining about the crisis in the party at the state and federal levels.
“I can confirm to you that six of the PDP lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly will soon defect to the APC, but the status quo will remain as they would not want to stop holding their present positions in the House until further notice.
“What I know is that a lot of things are going on in the party and things would never remain the same,” the source said.
Hon. Jude Idimogu could not confirm the defection but said “it is not an impossibility.”
“We have not defected yet. We are all still in the PDP to the best of my knowledge. I know there is crisis in the party, but we are yet to move. We are all still here. If we want to move, it will be done on the floor of the House or through a news conference,” he said.
It will be recalled that there was no PDP lawmaker in the Seventh Assembly as all the 40 members were from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the parties which formed the w APC. -
Court returns five PDP lawmakers
An Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday said the election petition tribunal was right to have upheld the elections of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House of Assembly.
The court, led by Justice Nwosu Ihene, dismissed the cases by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates on the grounds that they lacked merit.
The victorious candidates are Deputy Speaker Fatai Olotu (Akoko North East); Kemisola Adesanya (Akure South I); Malachi Coker (Ilaje I); Abayomi Akinruntan (Ilaje II) and Tuyi Akintimehin (Idanre).
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Police summon Ondo PDP lawmakers to Abuja
The lawmakers representing Ilaje I and II in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Malachi Coker and Abayomi Coker, have been summoned to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
This followed their resumption and swearing in without certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The duo escaped arrest last Wednesday when police detectives stormed the premises of the Election Petition Tribunal, Akure.
It was gathered that the lawmakers were covered by “immunity” in the court. Sources said the Speaker, Princess Jumoke Akindele, mobilised other lawmakers to intervene in the matter.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for Ilaje I and II, Gbenga Edema and Leke Adegboye, had petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase.
They urged the IG to probe the alleged impersonation and unlawful swearing-in of Akinruntan and Malachi by the Assembly Clerk.
It was learnt that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Segun Agbaje, had declared elections in the two Ilaje constituencies as inconclusive due to alleged irregularities.
Consequently, INEC did not give certificates of return to the two members-elect on May 5 when it presented certificates to 24 members-elect.
A June 8 petition by Charles Titiloye on behalf of the APC candidates noted that the Clerk confirmed the writ of returns and roll call of the 26 members-elect on June 1 with Akinruntan and Malachi as No 6 and 20 on the attendance list.
The petition reads: “We are aware that for a member-elect to be sworn-in as a lawmaker, the presentation of certificate of return should be a pre-condition in compliance with the Electoral Act.
“Based on this fact, we sought clarification from INEC on whether the certificates of return have been issued to the two lawmakers as at June 4 and INEC replied the second day that no certificates of return were issued in respect of the two members-elect.
“It is instructive to note that Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 makes issuance of a certificate of return mandatory for any person who has won election in Nigeria before he/she could be sworn in.
“Section 99 of the 1999 Constitution states that any person who sits or votes in a House of Assembly knowing or having reasonable grounds for knowing that he is not entitled to do so shall be guilty of an offence and shall upon conviction be liable to a term of imprisonment.”
The petitioners urged the IG to probe the fraudulent move and demanded justice to facilitate the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration.
Edema yesterday confirmed that he was on his way to Abuja.
It was learnt that the Clerk may also be quizzed by the police.
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Edo: PDP lawmakers asked to obey court orders
The Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City has thrown out an appeal for stay of execution by four suspended lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly.
It said the appeal by the lawmakers was “undue haste and jumping of the gun.”
The court said the lawmakers must obey court orders.
The lawmakers sought for stay of execution against an order of a High Court which restrained them and the police from gaining access into the premises of the assembly and the legislative quarters.
In a unanimous judgment read by Justice H.M Ogunwumuji, the court held that the applicants were hasty in filing the appeal instead of allowing the motion on notice to be heard by the lower court.
It held that it was a court that decides the nullity and validity of its decision and not the parties involved.
The court said the appeal was premature.
Justice Ogunwumiju said the parties could not be in contempt of a lower court and be seeking a higher court orders.
She dismissed the appeal and awards no cost.
Counsel to the lawmakers, Ferdinand Orbih, said they would study the ruling and react appropriately.
The respondent Counsel, Ken Mozia, said the contempt committal was kept in abeyance because of the appeal.
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PDP lawmakers seek membership of party’s NEC
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih was at the National Assembly yesterday. He met separately with the leadership of the upper and lower legislative chambers.
Expectedly, Senate President David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal led other lawmakers to host the BoT chair, whose mission was to smoothen executive/legislative relationship.
There was, however, a mild drama at the House of Representatives when Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila showed up in Room 414 at the Representatives wing of the National Assembly, where Anenih and the PDP lawmakers were meeting behind closed door.
Anenih, Tambuwal and the PDP members were shocked when Gajabiamila, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) representative from Lagos State,barged into the meeting venue.
The Minority Leader shunned efforts by the Speaker’s security details to stop him, despite being told that the meeting was mainly a PDP affair.
When Gbajabiamila entered, he made straight for Anenih, who on sighting him, jokingly asked him to come and take a seat beside him, offering the Minority Leader a PDP ticket.
“We will see in 2015” Gbajabiamila replied, challenging Anenih and the PDP members on 2015 elections.
Tambuwal was in the middle of a speech when Gbajabiamila entered.
The Speaker told the PDP BoT delegation that the 7th House would continue to put the executive arm of government in check with the provision of the 1999 Constitution.
Tambuwal said: “We have been working closely with the party and the executive arm of government to do exactly what we have campaigned for on the platform of our party.
“We will continue to give Nigeria the best as an arm government, and as representatives of the people.”
In his earlier remarks, Anenih said: “I have said it to people asking for Sovereign National Conference that, there is nothing National as the National Assembly”.
According to him, the meeting was to discuss the insecurity and the relationship between the executive and the legislature.
He said the relationship with the party and other arms of government will also be discussed, adding that it would, however, be done “in family manner.”
Mark urged the PDP leadership to include federal lawmakers in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
He also called on the warring groups within the party to ceasefire in order to effectively implement the party’s agenda.
Mark said: “As elected representatives of the people, we can make meaningful contributions for the benefit of the citizenry.”
According to him, lawmakers are true patriots, committed to making good laws that would reflect the true state of the Nigerian people.
“The National Assembly is the engine room of democracy and government and therefore should be given its pride of place, the Senate President said.”
He also pledged the loyalty of the National Assembly and promised to continue to work for the peace, unity and progress of the nation.