Member representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Lawal Idirisu has incurred the wrath of the party that brought him to the lower legislative Chamber of the National Assembly for defecting to the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
His former party, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in Kogi State has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to expel the lawmaker from the Chamber, asked him to refund all entitlements and other sanctions for defecting to the NNPP where he’s the candidate for Ajaokuta Federal Constituency in next month’s general election.
Counsel to the APC, J.U. Usman in a letter written to the office of the Speaker, House of Representatives, a copy was made available to journalists on Lokoja.
While citing sections 68(1) (G) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Gbajabiamila was asked to use his power of office to sack Ajaokuta lawmaker immediately.
According to the letter which reads in part; “That our clients’ are voters with voting points within Ajaokuta Federal Constituency who participated in the 2019 General Elections and massively voted in HON. LAWAL MUHAMMAD U IDIRISU who later emerged as the winner under the platform of the APC.
“That HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and got elected on the platform of APC in the 2019 National Assembly elections to represent Ajaokuta Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
“That sometimes in May, 2022 knowing that he was elected on the platform of APC to serve between 2019 to 2023, the said HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDRIS defected to New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) where he emerged as the flag bearer on the 20th day of May, 2022, respect of 2023 general election for House of Representatives, Ajaokuta Federal Constituency before the expiration of the period for which the current House of Representatives was elected.
“That premised on the above, it is common knowledge that the aforesaid HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU automatically lost his seat at the House of Representatives as a member representing the good people of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency having regards to section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20 wherein the Federal high court, Abuja sacked Hon. Yakubu Dogara for defecting from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressive Congress.
“That despite all these the said HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU has been drawing salaries, allowances and constituency project funds on the false believe that he is still a member of the House of Representatives.
”That you are empowered by the virtue of the provision of Section 68 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended to declare his seat vacant having defected from APC, the party whose platform he was elected to NNPP, another party whose platform he was not elected to the House of Representatives. It is against the law to further participate in the business activities of the House after defection by HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU
