Six members of the Labour Party in the Enugu State House of Assembly have officially defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Last Sunday, the lawmakers attempted to defect in an elaborate party at Okpara Square, but the event came to an abrupt end as party supporters were asked to leave the venue. However, during plenary on Thursday at the state House of Assembly complex, the lawmakers made their defection known in a letter read by the speaker, Hon. Uche Ugwu.
The defecting members are Mr Ejike Nwa Nsukka (Igbo-Eze North 1), Mr. Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North), Ms. Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural), Mr. Pius Onyeka Ezugwu (Nsukka West), Mr. Williams T. Amuka (Igbo-Etiti East), and Mr. Osita Eze (Oji River). The speaker explained that their defection was due to the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters.”
He continued: “Regrettably, the party has evolved into a state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
“The Labour Party once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of the electorate”.
They cited the cases of the Abure and Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party.