The All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to enjoy defections from minority parties in the House of Representatives.
On Tuesday, Peter Makinde, a member of the Africa Democratic Congress who represents Ondo East/Ondo West federal constituency of Ondo State moved to the APC.
The defection caused an angry reaction from the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) caucus in the House.
Nicholas Ossai a member from Delta State raised a point of order, calling on the Speaker to declare the defection ‘void.’
Citing section 68 sub 2 of the 1999 constitution, Ossai argued that Makinde failed to provided necessary proof to support his claim of faction in the ADC.
“He is to provide evidence to the entire House, not to the presiding officer. None of us has received the copy of the proof. Since this House has not received a copy of the proof, I urge the Speaker to void his defection,” Ossai argued.
The submission from Ossai earned him a rebuke from the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila who called Ossai a ‘meddlesome interloper’
“I am sure you know that evidence could be documentary or verbal. In the last 20 years, we have relied on verbal evidence, even when people are defecting to the PDP.
“Do you know the party Chairman of ADC? Can you tell us the name of the Chairman?”
As Ossai could not provide an answer to the question, Gbajabiamila ruled him out of order.
Defection: You are a meddlesome interloper – Gbajabiamila tells PDP Reps member, Ossai