UPDATE: PDP loses eight more Reps to APC, others JANUARY 14, 2015 BY JOHN AMEH, ABUJA 79 Comments The ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives further depleted on Wednesday as eight more members defected from the majority party. Four of the defectors joined the rival All Progressives Congress. The All Progressives Grand Alliance gained two of the defectors, while the Peoples Democratic Movement and the Social Democratic Party each gained one, bringing the total PDP defectors on Wednesday to eight. All the members either cited dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party’s last primaries or divisions in its fold as reasons for their decision to abandon the PDP. The four who defected to APC were Garba Ulma, Zakari Ibrahim, Ibrahim Kamba and Abdulmalik Cheche. Wilson Nathaniel joined the SDP, while Tony Madwatte and Nwogbo defected to PDM and APGA respectively. Another member, Mr. Benjamin Aboho, defected to APGA, while Mr. Forte Dike left APGA for APC. Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Victor Ogene, also made his defection from APGA to the APC official on Wednesday. By Ogene’s defection, both the chairman (Mr. Zakari Mohammed) and deputy chairman of the House committee on Media and Public Affairs are now members of the APC. The party alone gained six out of the total of 10 lawmakers, who changed political parties on Wednesday. The defection reduced the numerical strength of the PDP to around 182 members, while the APC rose from about 154 to 158 members. The SDP suddenly jumped to the third largest party in the House with 10 members. Labour Party has about three members, while APGA has two members and Accord Party, one. Meanwhile, the House further amended the Electoral Act 2010 on Wednesday to make a provision empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons would vote at elections held during emergencies. The amendment to the Act, which passed third reading on Wednesday, was a response to INEC’s stance that there was no legal backing for it to guarantee voting opportunities for the IDPS during next month’s general elections. The amendment added a new clause to the existing Section 26 of the Principal Act, giving INEC powers to make provision for the voting rights of the IDPs. It was proposed by a PDP lawmaker from Taraba State, Mr. Albert Tsam-Tsokwa. The amendment received unanimous approval by members and was passed along with the new Electoral Act. However, the House and the Senate will still meet in conference to harmonise any differences that may appear in their respective versions of the new law.
UPDATE: PDP loses eight
ReplyDeletemore Reps to APC, others
JANUARY 14, 2015 BY JOHN
AMEH, ABUJA
79 Comments
The ranks of the Peoples
Democratic Party in the
House of Representatives
further depleted on
Wednesday as eight more
members defected from the
majority party.
Four of the defectors joined
the rival All Progressives
Congress.
The All Progressives Grand
Alliance gained two of the
defectors, while the Peoples
Democratic Movement and
the Social Democratic Party
each gained one, bringing the
total PDP defectors on
Wednesday to eight.
All the members either cited
dissatisfaction with the
conduct of the party’s last
primaries or divisions in its
fold as reasons for their
decision to abandon the PDP.
The four who defected to
APC were Garba Ulma, Zakari
Ibrahim, Ibrahim Kamba and
Abdulmalik Cheche.
Wilson Nathaniel joined the
SDP, while Tony Madwatte
and Nwogbo defected to
PDM and APGA respectively.
Another member, Mr.
Benjamin Aboho, defected to
APGA, while Mr. Forte Dike
left APGA for APC.
Deputy Chairman, House
Committee on Media and
Public Affairs, Mr. Victor
Ogene, also made his
defection from APGA to the
APC official on Wednesday.
By Ogene’s defection, both
the chairman (Mr. Zakari
Mohammed) and deputy
chairman of the House
committee on Media and
Public Affairs are now
members of the APC.
The party alone gained six
out of the total of 10
lawmakers, who changed
political parties on
Wednesday.
The defection reduced the
numerical strength of the
PDP to around 182 members,
while the APC rose from
about 154 to 158 members.
The SDP suddenly jumped to
the third largest party in the
House with 10 members.
Labour Party has about three
members, while APGA has
two members and Accord
Party, one.
Meanwhile, the House
further amended the
Electoral Act 2010 on
Wednesday to make a
provision empowering the
Independent National
Electoral Commission to
ensure that Internally
Displaced Persons would
vote at elections held during
emergencies.
The amendment to the Act,
which passed third reading
on Wednesday, was a
response to INEC’s stance
that there was no legal
backing for it to guarantee
voting opportunities for the
IDPS during next month’s
general elections.
The amendment added a
new clause to the existing
Section 26 of the Principal
Act, giving INEC powers to
make provision for the voting
rights of the IDPs.
It was proposed by a PDP
lawmaker from Taraba State,
Mr. Albert Tsam-Tsokwa.
The amendment received
unanimous approval by
members and was passed
along with the new Electoral
Act.
However, the House and the
Senate will still meet in
conference to harmonise any
differences that may appear
in their respective versions of
the new law.
Awesome
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