Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal
An All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday.
Akinlade, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, defected to the PDP on the floor of the House in Abuja.
The Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, had read Akinlade’s defection letter amid jubilation by PDP members, who rushed to embrace him (Akinlade).
One member from Cross River State, Mr. Ini Udoka, expeditiously adorned Akinlade with a PDP muffler.
He had told the Speaker that he was covered under Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to transmute his political party.
His letter read, “This is to formally apprise you and the leadership of the House of Representatives of my intention to join the Peoples Democratic Party.
“This decision is premised on the fact that the Action Congress of Nigeria, on which platform I won election into the House in 2011, has merged with other parties to compose APC.
“The Certificate of Registration of the ACN has since been returned to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“You may note that I won election into the House in 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the PDP but got re-elected in 2011 on the platform of the defunct ACN for the third term.
“In line with Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, many of my constituents and I resolved not to be a component of the subsequent merger that was negotiated between the leadership of the defunct ACN and some other political parties which led to the eventual registration of the APC.
“I, however, thank the leadership of the defunct ACN for giving me the opportunity to accommodate on its platform.”
Findings showed that Akinlade was at a point linked with the Labour Party and was touted to be the likely consensus candidate of the party to run for the governorship in the 2015 elections.
Meanwhile, lawmakers have applauded the “gallantry” of the governorship candidate of the LP in the just-concluded Ekiti State election, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Budget/Research, strolled into the chambers on Thursday a few minutes after the proceedings of the day commenced.
