*Another Rep defects to APC
*We’ve no crisis -Party
By Mercy Aikoye
Labour Party (LP)’s woes are certainly worsening as another member of the Party in the House of Representatives, Fom Daniel Chollom, on Tuesday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This development was made public when Chollom’s letter of defection was read at plenary by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
Five of Chollom’s colleagues from the Labour Party – Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), Iyawe Esosa (Edo) and Daulyop Fom (Plateau) had defected to the APC last week.
According to Chollom, his decision to defect was due to the leadership crisis in the Labour Party, which has made it difficult for him to identify which faction to associate with. This, he claimed, has affected his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
Chollom also stated that he has reflected deeply on the leadership crisis in the Labour Party and has come to the conclusion that he will better serve the interest of his people within the fold of the APC.
He expressed his appreciation to the Labour Party for offering him the platform to contest and come to the House.
However, Deputy Minority Whip of the House, George Ozodinobi, has described Chollom and other defecting lawmakers as “men without ideology.” Ozodinobi insisted that Chollom’s seat should be declared vacant, citing that the defecting lawmakers used the platform of the Labour Party to get elected but failed to stay loyal to the party.
Ozodinobi expressed concern over the rate of defection from the Labour Party to the APC, emphasizing that there is no leadership crisis in the Labour Party. He questioned the integrity of the defecting lawmakers, stating that they will not earn the trust of the APC.
Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, also criticized Chollom’s defection, stating that he failed to do the needful by first resigning from the Labour Party from his ward and presenting evidence of such resignation to the House before his letter of defection was read.
