Minority leader protests as sixth Zamfara rep dumps PDP for APC

July 14

14:46 2021

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Kabiru Amadu(pictured), member representing Gusau/Tsafe federal constituency of Zamfara state, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, announced Yahaya’s defection during plenary session on Wednesday.

The lawmaker cited “endemic crisis” in the PDP in Zamfara as his reason for dumping the party.

Ndidi Elumelu, minority leader of the house, protested the defection.

Elumelu said the defection is against section 68 (1g) of the constitution, adding that there is no crisis in the PDP.

The section he quoted stipulates conditions where a lawmaker can lose his seat upon defection.

However, the speaker ruled him out of order, saying there is separation of powers and only the court can interpret the constitution.

Amadu’s defection brings to six the number of Zamfara lawmakers that have joined the PDP from the APC — leaving the opposition party with only one lawmaker in the state.

The ruling party has now gained at least nine lawmakers in the past three weeks.