Minority Leader Condemns Kaduna Lawmakers’ Defection to APC, Cites Constitutional Breach

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, has faulted the defection of three lawmakers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as unconstitutional and contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Hon. Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, raised a constitutional point of order during Tuesday’s plenary following the defection announcements of three members from Kaduna State, Hon. Abdelkarim Hussain Ahmad (Kaduna South), Hon. Aliu Mustafa Abdullahi (Ikara/Kubau), and Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi (Sabon Gari).

The lawmakers, in their separate letters read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, attributed their decision to leave the PDP to “internal crises” within the party and pledged loyalty to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Uba Sani’s administration in Kaduna State.

However, Chinda countered the justification, insisting that the constitution only recognizes “division”, not internal crisis, as a valid ground for a legislator to defect from one political party to another.

Quoting Section 68(1)(g)of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he said:

“Even where we accept, without conceding, that there are crises in the political party, the law is clear, crisis does not amount to division as envisaged by the Constitution and as interpreted by the Supreme Court.”

The Minority Leader maintained that the PDP remains united and that no recognized division exists within its ranks to warrant the defections.

He urged the Speaker to uphold the constitutional provisions that protect the sanctity of the legislature and political parties.

In his response, Speaker Abbas represented by his deputy Benjamin Kalu noted the point of order but ruled that the matter was “well noted and stepped down” pending further clarification from the Minority Leader.

Meanwhile, the Speaker congratulated the defecting lawmakers and formally welcomed them to the APC, which he described as “the greatest and biggest party in Africa.”

The defections, however, have stirred fresh debate in the House over party discipline and adherence to constitutional provisions guiding membership of the National Assembly.