Defection: Adamawa APC Assembly men dump party for PDP

From Umar Dankano, Yola

All members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Adamawa state House of Assembly yesterday dumped the party for the majority People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The members are Mr Wafarninyi Theman of Hong Constancy, Mr Simon Issa of Song Constituency and Alhaji Abubakar Jarengol of Mubi North Constituency.

In a plenary sitting presided over by the Speaker, Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the APC members who were led by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Warfariniyi Theman (member Hong), presented their case under Order 41, where the House Rules were suspended to accommodate a matter of personal explanation.

The APC members explained that although they won elections under the ACN and CPC, these platforms, they claimed is no longer existing by virtue of their fusion into the APC.

They further explained that they have resolved to move to the PDP after due consultations with their constituencies.

Responding the Soeaker observed that the members acted in accordance to proper laid down procedures and have acted under Section 109 sub Section F of the constitution which empowers them to do so.

“By this development, all the 25 members of this assembly are now PDP members”, Fintiri said.

The speaker said the action confirmed the House support for the transformation and rebirth of the country by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

However, Hon. Adamu Kamale the spokesman of the Assembly said that lawmakers have no plan to defect to All Progressives Party.

Kamale denied the allegations that seventeen lawmakers are in romance with APC, saying that the PDP lawmakers have never left the PDP, and joined APC in the state.

Reacting to the development, the former secretary of PDP in the state, Mr. P.P. Elisha who defected along with the Governor Murtala Nyako, quoted section 109 of Nigeria constitution saying that the lawmakers action is legal.

He explained that initially he and the former Chairman of the party Alh. Mijiyawa Kugama, were in the PDP along with the members to protect their interest stressing that now that they have moved out of the fold, the lawmakers have no option that to affirm their membership and loyalty to the state exco of the party led by Chief Joel Madaki.