Six Labour Party Lawmakers Defect To PDP In Enugu
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Typically amplifying the popular idiomatic expression that “the chickens have come home to roast”, six serving Labour Party (LP) lawmakers in the Enugu State House of Assembly have officially decamped to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South East state.
By their actions, the LP, which originally boast of 14 members has now lost its majority position in the 24-member House to the PDP that hitherto had only 10 members.
The lawmakers, who had unsuccessfully attempted to defect last Sunday, March 24, in an elaborate party at the Okpara Square, formally perfected their plans on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Reports indicated that the Sunday programme came to an abrupt end when party supporters were suddenly ordered to vacate the Okpara Square that was initially scheduled to host the event.
But on Thursday, the lawmakers eventually made good their defection during a plenary at the state House of Assembly complex in a letter read by the speaker, Hon. Uche Ugwu.
Speaker Ugwu listed the defecting members as Mr Ejike Nwa Nsukka, (Igbo-Eze North 1); Mr. Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North); Ms. Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural); Mr. Pius Onyeka Ezugwu (Nsukka West); Mr. Williams T. Amuka (Igbo-Etiti East) and Mr. Osita Eze (Oji River).
According to the Speaker, the lawmakers’ defection was due to the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters.”
He further quoted the defecting Assemblymen’s letter as saying; “Regrettably, the party has evolved into a state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
“The Labour Party once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of the electorate”.
Additionally, the former LP legislators cited the cases of the Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions as well as the National Treasurer’s allegations against the embattled National Chairman as some of the irreconcilable divisions within the party.
