A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Adamawa
State, Adamu Kamale, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
With this development, APC members are inching towards
doubling those of the PDP as a result of gradual but consistent defections to
the ruling party by opposition legislators.
Kamale announced his defection in a letter read at
yesterday’s plenary.
His defection has further reduced the number of PDP
lawmakers to around 122, while APC has increased to about 231.
He said he ditched the PDP due to the continued leadership
crisis in the party, and assured that his decision to join the APC was taken
after receiving the go ahead from his constituents in Adamawa.
Kamale’s action was challenged by the Minority Whip, Yakubu
Barde (PDP, Kaduna), who cited Section 68 (g) of the Nigerian Constitution,
which he said provided that any lawmaker who left a political party under which
platform he was elected, without any division in the party, shall vacate his
seat.
But his argument could not stand as Speaker Yakubu Dogara
ruled that: “The constitution does not tell us what faction is about. The issue
of faction (division) can only be determined by the court, so we should allow
the court to determine that.”
By Musa Abdullahi Krishi
