- The opposition party urged the speakers of the house of representatives and the Kaduna state house of assembly to declare the defectors’ seats vacant and notify INEC to conduct bye-elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demanding that its former lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Kaduna State House of Assembly relinquish their seats.
This comes after the lawmakers defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Saturday, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, welcomed some defectors, who were leaders in the PDP, at a rally that took place at the Murtala Muhammed Square.
Among the defectors are Shehu Sani, the former Kaduna senator; Suleiman Hunkuyi, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2023; Muktar Ramalan Yero, a former Kaduna governor; and Sani Shaaban, a former member of the house of representatives.
Others are Danjuma Tela Laah, Abubakar Mustapha, Jafaru Kurmin Kogi, Donatus Mathew, Amos Gwamna Magaji, Henry Marah Zachariah, Samuel Kozah Kambai, Emmanuel Kantiok, Sule Buba, Yakubu Umar Barde, Mato Dogara, Micheal Auta, Joseph Almajiri Ciroma, Idris Zangon Aya, Muhammad Mahmud Aliyu, Usman Baba, and Seth Bakut.
Maria Dogo, PDP’s Kaduna State Publicity Secretary, condemned the defections, labeling them a breach of trust.
She emphasized that while the Nigerian Constitution allows freedom of association, lawmakers who switch parties must give up their seats unless their original party is experiencing internal division.
Dogo cited the Constitution, saying, “According to Sections 68(1)(g) and 109, serving legislators who defect to another party must vacate their seats.”
The PDP urged the Speakers of the House of Representatives and Kaduna State House of Assembly to declare the defectors’ seats vacant and notify INEC to conduct bye-elections.
The party dismissed the defections as politically motivated, claiming some defectors sought automatic tickets for the 2026 elections after failing in PDP’s zoning arrangements or losing in the 2022 primaries.
Dogo accused the APC-led government of prioritizing wrongly, criticizing Governor Sani’s administration for hosting elaborate receptions for defectors instead of addressing governance issues.
“Our people yearn for a return to PDP’s thriving economy,” Dogo stated.
“No amount of defections can save the APC-led government from its imminent exit in 2027.”
Despite the setback, the PDP reaffirmed its strength and commitment to democracy, assuring supporters it remains Kaduna residents’ preferred choice.
The party vowed to take necessary legal steps to reclaim its mandates.
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