Despite Court Ruling Against Defection, Another Senator Dumps PDP For APC

Despite several court rulings that have made it clear that it is illegal for lawmakers to defect from the parties upon which they got elected, Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Mr Ibrahim Danbaba, has decamped from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The lawmaker’s decision to join to the APC was conveyed in a letter read at the start of plenary by the Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday.

Recalled the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had in March sacked 20 members of the Cross River State House of Assembly for defecting from the PDP to the APC.

The judgement, which was delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 made it very clear that defection by lawmakers was illegal.

The judge had ruled that, “A day must surely come when elected officials, must ask the people who voted for them before defecting to other political parties,” Mr Taiwo said.

He noted that, “… at the time the lawmakers defected from the PDP to the APC, the PDP did not have division in the party,” the judge said, before lambasting them.

He said, “the lawmakers wined and dined under the umbrella of the PDP,” but ditched the party even when there was no justification for their action.””

But on Wednesday, Danbaba through the Senate President suppressed all protests from the opposition insisting all was not well with the PDP.

The lawmaker, who represents Sokoto South in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, was nominated by the PDP on July 15, 2022, for the position of Deputy Minority Whip, following the defection of the former Deputy Whip, Senator Sahabi Ya’u, representing Zamfara North from the PDP to the APC.
Mr Danbaba’s defection brings the total number of APC Senators in the upper chamber to 71, and PDP 37.
The lawmaker, in his letter, explained that his decision to leave the PDP was informed by the lingering and multifaceted crisis at the zonal level of the party.

“I write to formally inform you and distinguished colleagues of my decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

“My decision is anchored on the continuing multifaceted crisis that have bedevilled the PDP, especially at the zonal level which has created not only credibility problems, but has undermined party discipline, cohesion and focus.
“The situation at the state level has not helped matters either as depicted by lack of political sanity, focus and credible leadership.

“I have in APC, the political ideology in consonance with my personal political philosophy. This Ideology also seems the best suited to meet the expectations and aspirations of my constituents.

“While thanking you, Mr. President, please, accept the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Attempts by Senators Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) and Lilian Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra Central), to rely on point of orders to stop Mr Danbaba’s defection were unsuccessful as the Senate President ruled them out of order.

Senate Ekwunife, while relying on the provisions of Section 68(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), requested that Danbaba’s seat be declared vacant.

The Senate President, however, ruled her out of order, explaining that the reasons advanced by Senator Danbaba were valid and excusable under the law.

It is not clear if the opposition will approach the court on the issue.