The Labour Party has suffered yet another defection in the House of Representatives as Hon. Sunday Umeha, representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency of Enugu State, formally announced his resignation from the party and declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter read on the floor of the House, by the speaker,Hon Abbas Tajudeen,Hon. Umeha cited unabated leadership crisis within the Labour Party as the primary reason for his defection.
According to him, the party has been embroiled in a prolonged crisis with three different factions laying claim to its national leadership.
The lawmaker also expressed gratitude to the APC leadership in Enugu State and across Nigeria for their support, while reaffirming his commitment to the development of his constituency and the Southeast zone.
However, Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, immediately raised a point of order under Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), challenging the legality of Umeha’s defection.
Chinda argued that the Supreme Court has already resolved the leadership tussle within the Labour Party, hence there is no division within the party to warrant a defection under the provisions of Section 68(1)(g).
He called on the Speaker, to exercise his constitutional powers by declaring the seat of the defected lawmaker vacant.
