Another LP Lawmaker, Umahia Dumps Party, Joins APC

Sunday Umahia, a legislator from Enugu State, has abandoned the Labour Party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Umahia, who represents the Ezeagu/Udi federal constituency, cited the prolonged power struggle within the Labour Party as the reason for his departure.

According to him, the party’s leadership crisis, which has led to three factions claiming control, has created confusion among members.

Umahia’s decision to defect was announced during a plenary session, where his letter of defection was read out by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. The legislator expressed his desire to team up with President and the APC leadership to provide direction for the country, particularly the South East region.

However, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, expressed concerns over the frequent defections, stating that it undermines the democratic process.

Chinda argued that the practice is creating confusion and called for a review of the constitutional provisions governing defections to protect the country’s democracy.

He also urged the Speaker to declare the seats of defectors vacant, citing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the Labour Party’s leadership crisis, which has effectively resolved the issue.

Furthermore, Chinda pointed out that the House’s standing orders dictate that committee leadership positions are allocated based on party affiliation. He suggested that defectors should relinquish their leadership roles in committees, allowing their former parties to nominate replacements.

The development has sparked a fresh debate on the implications of defections on the country’s political landscape, with Senator Nenadi Usman, Barrister Julius Abure, and Alhaji Lamidi Apapa being mentioned as claimants to the Labour Party’s leadership.