A member of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Gumi, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas revealed this to his colleagues during the plenary session.
Abbas said Gumi, who represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State, left the PDP due to the ongoing crisis within the party ranks in his constituency.
“The Honourable member stated that there are two PDP Chairmen in his constituency, adding to the internal and external crisis within the party in his state. The party lacks structure in the state,” the Speaker quoting Gumi’s letter sent to the National Assembly.
However, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, citing a constitutional point of order, reminded the Speaker of the need to address the defection in line with the Nigerian constitution.
“Mr Speaker, You are aware that when a member leaves his political party, the rules are clear.
“There is a time to do the right thing, and that time has come. You swore to uphold the constitution of this country,” Chinda said.
While several PDP lawmakers gave Chinda a standing ovation, Gumi’s defection proceeded successfully, with the APC members applauding him.
The defection comes just two weeks after Gumi’s appointment as Chairman of the House Committee on the North-West Development Commission.
