Adamawa youths have staged a protest in the state capital, Yola, yesterday over an alleged plan by the State House of Assembly to remove a member who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The member, Ayuba Joseph Kwada, who represents Michika State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, had, at the weekend, announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, saying the PDP and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri had been sidelining him in activities and decisions that should involve him.
His defection from the PDP allegedly caused panic within the House leadership and in the state government, and talk became rife that the House would, at its sitting yesterday, remove Ayuba by declaring his seat vacant.
That the PDP enjoyed only a slight majority of 14 members to APC’s 11 members while Ayuba was still in PDP, gave strength to the speculation that the PDP government was desperate not to let Ayuba go unpunished.
So, it was rumoured yesterday that the House would, at the day’s sitting, declare Ayuba’s seat vacant.
Pro-Ayuba youths had responded by gathering in front of the House of Assembly Complex in Yola as early as 9:00 a.m., protesting the alleged plan to remove Ayuba.
Ayuba, in a chat with reporters at his Yola residence, while the protest was on around the Assembly Complex, said he left the PDP because the PDP and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri were making him look like an orphan and he needed a refuge.
“I was left in the sun and I could no longer bear the heat. So, I left for the APC where I would find shade,” Ayuba said.
On the alleged plan to declare his seat vacant, he said: “I heard all that, but I don’t know how they will do it. Not long ago, Musa Bororo (who represents Mubi South in the House of Assembly) left the APC for the PDP. His seat was not declared vacant. I don’t know how they will do this one.”
Our correspondent reports that when the House of Assembly eventually had its sitting yesterday, no mention was made of Ayuba’s defection.
The Speaker of the House, Aminu Iya Abbas led members in the sitting, treated three bills, but said nothing about Ayuba Kwada.
Not a word was uttered by either the Speaker or any member until the House adjourned sitting to today.
The silence of the House on the Ayuba issue gave rise to the fresh speculation that the House is resting its alleged plan for another day.