The Labour Party (LP) has raised concerns over the difficulty in serving court papers to six members of the House of Representatives who defected from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naijaonpoint learnt that LP is seeking a court order to declare the seats of the defectors vacant and recover all salaries and allowances they have earned as lawmakers.
Speaking to Punch on Thursday, the LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, and the party’s National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, revealed that the defectors had been evading service of court documents.
“We have made multiple attempts to serve them court papers, but they continue to evade service. We may be left with no option but to involve the Clerk of the National Assembly and publish their names in national newspapers,” Ifoh said.
The Defected Lawmakers
The defectors include Ajang Iliya (Jos South/Jos East, Plateau), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo), and Daulyop Fom (Plateau).
Iliya, who defected in December 2024, cited internal crises within the LP and the need to align with President Bola Tinubu’s developmental policies as his reasons for joining the APC.
The LP leadership dismissed the defectors as “paper-weight politicians,” arguing that their departure wouldn’t impact the party’s support base.
“We have taken similar cases to court in the past, and we won. They’re wasting their time in the APC. Most of them will not return to the National Assembly, and those who do will be very few,” Ifoh said.
Despite their tough stance, the LP expressed readiness to welcome the defectors back under strict conditions. “In politics, you don’t close your doors, but it will be on our terms,” he added.
Frustrations Over Judicial Delays
Kennedy Ahanotu lamented the delay caused by the defectors’ actions, blaming it on the inefficiencies of the justice system.
“These people are running away from being served, and it’s prolonging the process. Our National Legal Adviser is handling the matter, but justice in Nigeria often comes slowly,” Ahanotu said.
He criticized the culture of impunity in Nigerian politics, adding, “It is unfortunate that those who once protested against injustice now oppress and deny the masses justice when they are in power.”
Ahanotu emphasized the need for timely resolution of defection cases to ensure accountability.
“If the justice system worked efficiently, cases of defection could be resolved within two to three months, allowing for a re-run to elect representatives who truly serve the party and the people,” he concluded.