House: DPP Kicks Against Lawmaker's Defection To APC

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 23, (THEWILL) -  The last is yet to be heard about the gale of defection sweeping through the House of Representatives as the National Leader of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Gen.

Jeremiah Useni, Thursday opposed the defection of erstwhile member of his party in the House of Representatives, Hon.

Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it does not have the blessing of the party.

The lawmaker, who represents Jos North/Bassa federal constituency of Plateau, had on Tuesday defected from the DPP to APC.

Useni in a letter to the Speaker, Hon.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Thursday, said the lawmaker acted against the directive of the party, which advised him to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

"This is to inform you that he does not have my backing, he was directed to declare for the PDP," Useni said in the letter.

Tambuwal, who read the letter during plenary, said it was important for him to read the letter to the hearing of the members "so I would not be accused of hiding such an important message from a party leader.

" He urged other members that wish to defect to consult with their leaders in order to avoid the type of situation that has played out.

"That  was why I said we are in very interesting political times.

And that is why I decided to read out the letter so that I will not be accused of hiding an important message from a national leader.

"So, those of you planning to defect  must consult your national leaders before doing  so," Tambuwal said.

Reacting to the letter from Useni, the House Minority Leader, Hon.

Femi Gbajabiamila, stated that the letter is odd to the spirit of the law and precisely right of association.

'It is a strange letter.
All over the world when people defect, it is in protest and disenchantment with their former party, 'Gbajabiamila said.

He argued that the right of association as enshrined in Section 40 of 1999 constitution states without ambiguity that, 'Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular HE (emphasis mine) may form or belong to ANY POLITICAL PARTY (emphasis mine), trade union or any other association for the protection of HIS (emphasis mine) interests.

' It  is a right in persona.
It belongs to an individual and not a party.
Also on Thursday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Budget and Research, Hon.

Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele,  officially notified the Speaker of his defection from APC to the Labour Party (LP).