Another member of the House of Representatives, Hon Chisom Dike, on Thursday defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who read Dike’s letter to the House during plenary on Thursday said the lawmaker cited, among other things, the division in the PDP as the reason for his defection.
The lawmaker representing Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the letter described Gbajabiamila’s leadership as accommodating, saying that the APC was the right party for him.
The lawmaker who was elated when the speaker announced his defection said, “I am finally home.”
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama between the speaker and the House Minority Leader of the House, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, when the speaker jokingly asked whether he had anything to say about the latest defection.
The House Leader, Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, at this point interjected, saying “we want to put you on notice that by Thursday next week there will be two more defections.”
In a swift reaction, the speaker said: “No! No!! We can’t have one-party state. We can’t continue like this (laughs). Hon. Elumelu, Minority Leader, you are quiet. Is everything ok? You want to say something.
In his response, Hon Elumelu said, “Mr Speaker, it’s very funny, how the APC-led government is priding themselves that they intimidate people to join their party while Nigerians can’t sleep. There is insecurity in the nation. Today, Zamfara is locked out. Even Katsina is totally locked up.”
The speaker again interjected saying, “minority Leader, do you want to bring a motion on security? The issue is the crossing of one of your members to APC.”
But Hon Elumelu continued, “an Emir recently just installed has been kidnapped. Too bad, that an Emir who came just this week for a visa and went home to just get documents that will enable him to go for his medical checkup has been kidnapped. This clearly shows that the APC-led government is leading the nation very bad.
“When the House leader is busily priding himself that people are coming to APC. Until the APC-led government is able to provide security of lives and property, we can’t have a safe Nigeria as we speak.
“House leader, you use mobile security because there is insecurity which the APC-led government has brought to our nation. Unemployment, infrastructural decay, are now worsening it…”
At this point the speaker said, “point of order, can somebody please read order 9 rule 5.”
Consequently, the House Spokesperson, Hon Ben Kalu, read the rule as requested. Kalu said “debate upon any motion, bill or amendment shall be relevant, such motion, bill or amendment, EXCEPT in the case of a substantive motion…”
At this point, the speaker ruled Hon Elumelu out of order as he hit the gavel and said “minority leader, you are ruled out of order.”
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