The Peoples Democratic Party caucus in
the Senate, on Thursday lost a member, Senator Nelson Effiong, to the
All Progressives Congress.
Effiong, who represents Akwa Ibom South
Senatorial District, while announcing his defection at the plenary on
Thursday, also took a swipe at the PDP, saying no reasonable politician
would remain in a party and allow his or her people to be drifting away.
The minority PDP caucus, however, warned
Effiong against losing his seat in the Senate as there was no division
in the opposition party.
Effiong, while raising a point of order
on Order 43 of the Senate, said, “I have decided that no reasonable
politician who is worth his salt would remain and allow his people to be
drifting about without a direction. So, I have decided today, the 19th
day of January, 2017, to resign from the PDP and move to the party that
is bringing peace and direction to this country, the APC. I so move.”
The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki,
who presided over the plenary, after Effiong’s speech, ruled that there
would be no debate on the announcement as the Senate Standing Rules
say.
But Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba
South) raised another point of order and warned Effiong against losing
his seat over the defection.
He said, “I hope that my colleague is
aware of the implications of what he has just done as the PDP, as a
party, is one and is intact. I fear for his seat and the consequences
that may follow as a result of this action. I want to say, Mr.
President, that what he has said appears to be an insult to those of us
who are in the PDP.
“If he wants to do the usual business in
the Nigerian politics of following the weather, he should say it
clearly. This business of moving here and there, following the weather,
should be stated clearly and let him not deviate from the original
intentions he has; that is our position.”
Also, the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, stated that the PDP would challenge the defection in court.
He said, “I need to let the Senate and
the Senate President know that in terms of the court decisions up to the
Supreme Court, it is not an individual that contests election, it is a
political party. Therefore, the moment somebody takes the mandate of a
political party, it behoves that political party to immediately take
steps.
“We heard that this action was going to
take place and we engaged the senator in various discussions and we have
shown him the implication. I want it to be noted in this Senate that
the PDP in Akwa Ibom State is already on its way to court and would want
to reclaim its mandate. We must reclaim the mandate given to us and we
don’t mind the distinguished senator joining the APC, but he will not go
with the mandate given to us in Akwa Ibom State.
“The reason I am standing today is the PDP; tomorrow, it might be the APC.”
Read more at: The Punch
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