There was a dramatic exchange in the House of Representatives on Thursday as four lawmakers announced their defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read out the defection letters of the four lawmakers, who expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the Labour Party.
The defectors included Chinedu Okere from Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West, Mathew Donatus from Kaura Federal Constituency in Kaduna, Akiba Bassey from Calabar Municipal/Odukpani, and Esosa Iyawe from Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo.
In their letters, the lawmakers cited division and internal crises within the Labour Party as their primary reasons for leaving.
Akiba Bassey, in his letter, painted a grim picture of the party’s internal troubles, stating that the Labour Party was embroiled in a severe and protracted crisis. He revealed that the party was divided into two factions at the national level, both vying for leadership.
“This division has spread to local governments, with parallel executive committees at all levels, which are engaged in ongoing litigation,” he said.
According to Bassey, the internal conflict had rendered the party ineffective, unable to unite or provide a stable platform for governance.
Similarly, Esosa Iyawe explained his defection, stating that the Labour Party’s failure to declare a legitimate caretaker committee at all levels, from national to state, had left him and his supporters in a state of confusion.
“The incessant tussles over leadership and the perpetual court cases against the party’s leadership have made it impossible to trust the stability of the party,” he added.
“I am exercising my right to freedom of association, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Esosa concluded, formally notifying the Speaker of his switch to the APC.
However, their defection was met with a sharp and emotional response from Deputy Minority Whip, George Ibezimako Ozodinobi, who represents the Labour Party in Anambra.
Ozodinobi stood up immediately after the defection letters were read and accused the defectors of lacking any true political ideology. With his voice laced with anger and disappointment, Ozodinobi lashed out at his former colleagues, calling them “people without ideology” who could not be trusted.
“My party remains united, and we are not embroiled in any crisis,” he said. “For those of you trying to malign my party, there is no faction. We have no crisis in Labour. It is a party of principles.”
Ozodinobi drew a powerful analogy from the Bible, quoting the passage about Veronica weeping as Jesus carried the cross. “When Jesus was carrying the cross to the Calvary, the woman, Veronica, was weeping. And he looked back and said, ‘Women of Israel, don’t weep for me, weep for yourselves.’”
The Deputy Minority Whip continued, directing his words at the defectors: “I tell you, those who have crossed over to APC will continue to weep for themselves. There is no future for you there.”
He went further, stating that those who lacked political ideology would inevitably face disappointment. “When people join political parties without any ideology, this is the result. The party that has brought hunger to this country is not the place for people who care about the future of the people.”
Ozodinobi also criticized the APC for offering what he called “a rotten carrot” to the defectors. He stressed that while the APC may have momentary allure, the Labour Party, which he claimed is the “party of the people,” would welcome them back when the party’s fortunes change.
“We are waiting, and by 2027, we will open our arms again and give them their rightful ticket,” he declared firmly.
The defection of these lawmakers comes at a time when the Labour Party is experiencing growing instability. Internal leadership battles have been a long-standing issue, and the party’s inability to resolve its crises has left many questioning its future.
Despite the dramatic defection and the accusations of division within the party, Ozodinobi insisted that Labour would stand strong and united.
