High-Profile APC Gathering for NNPP Defectors
Prominent All Progressives Congress leaders witnessed a political shift on Thursday. APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and former chairman Abdullahi Ganduje attended the House session. They observed two New Nigeria People’s Party lawmakers formally defect to the ruling party.
Defectors Cite Party Crises
Representatives Abdulmumin Jibrin (Kiru/Bebeji) and Sagir Koki (Kano Municipal) resigned from NNPP. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read their defection letters during plenary. Both legislators pointed to unresolved internal conflicts as their reason for leaving.
Jibrin stated the NNPP’s deep divisions made representation impossible. He recently returned to APC after leaving the party earlier. Koki echoed similar concerns about national and state-level leadership crises.
Defection Challenge Ignored
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda raised constitutional objections during the session. He argued the lawmakers failed to prove NNPP factionalization as required by law. Despite repeated points of order, Speaker Tajudeen didn’t recognize Chinda.
The Speaker proceeded to welcome the defectors to APC. This occurred amid ongoing political realignments in Nigeria’s legislature. The ruling party gains two more seats from Kano State.
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