House Member Dumps Labour Party For ACN

ABUJA, January 31, (THEWILL) - A member of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) Tuesday abandoned his party and defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Hon. Ifedayo Sunday Abegunde who represents Akure North/South federal constituency of Ondo state in a letter to Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced his defection to the ACN Tuesday.

Reading the letter on the floor of the chambers, Speaker Tambuwal said the defector alleged that the Labour Party in Ondo was sharply divided and lacks cohesion hence his decision to find a more united and coordinated party to enable him perform his responsibilities as a legislator.

Abegunde alleged that presently, two candidates are laying claim to the state chairmanship of the party in Ondo while there are several ongoing court cases involving party members.

Speaking to the press after the session, Abegunde said when he joined the Labour Party, he had thought it would be a party that will be based on progress, but his expectation have been dashed.

“The people are poor, no economic empowerment of the people. The people are suffering; they can’t put food on the table, not to mention paying school fees.

“Though markets have been built for the people, but they have no money to buy products, and for the few that could buy products, there are no sales because the purchasing power of the people is low,” he said.

The lawmaker also cited lopsidedness in developmental projects and appointments as well as the inability of the current Governor, Olusegun Mimiko to listen to the dictates of the people as some of the reasons he moved to the ACN.

The lawmaker was received by the leader of ACN, who also doubles as the minority leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilah (ACN, Lagos). Two brooms were presented to the latest party member while other opposition members joined in celebration on the floor of the chambers.

With the defection of Abegunde, Labour Party is left with only nine representatives in the House: eight from Ondo and one from Plateau state. Meanwhile the ACN’s membership in the House has now risen to 72. Other opposition parties in the House are the Accord party with 5 members, ANPP 27, APGA 7 and CPC 40.