Confusion Over Resignation of Ebonyi HOA Deputy Speaker

By Uche Mbah

Politics of defection took an ugly turn Monday when the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly declared the seat of his Deputy, Odefa Obasi Odefa, vacant following allegation of defection to the All Progressives Congress Party.

Constitutionally, anyone who defects from a political party must resign the position he is elected to hold under his old party.

The Deputy Speaker, elected under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was alleged to have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

This, analysts believe, is due to pressures from the Governor, Dave Umahi, who had defected to APC.

At the Center, PDP is alleged to have a splinter group, New PDP, or nPDP, which made it possible for the Governor to defect. The only condition any one can defect is if there is crisis within the party he is leaving.

The Governor has an eye on the Presidency come 2023.

Other members alleged to have defected are Mr Oliver Osi, Ivo East Constituency and Mrs Ngozi Ezilo Afikpo North East constituency.

Their letters of defection were read during plenary Monday.

The Speaker, Francis Nwifuru, claimed he accepted their resignation.

But the Deputy Speaker and the two Members denied resigning, with the Deputy Speaker insisting that he remains the Deputy Speaker of the House.

“Why will I resign? It’s a monkey child’s place. It is only going to be by Recall. I have not participated in any Congress organized by APC. I didn’t resign”, he was reported to have said.

“I do not belong to the APC. If you represent your people, it’s your people that will decide. No man is God. The House realized that they do not have 2/3 majority to effect my impeachment and that’s why they alleged that I resigned. That’s what happened. Why will I resign? Is it that I am mentally deranged?

“Did INEC give any other member a certificate of return? It’s now a legal issue. They plan to kill me. They are planning blood shed. They cannot kill me because they didn’t create me. I chose to be in PDP

“I have been threatened that I will be kidnapped and not be seen. Everything has to be by the law. Nobody’s life is worth any political position. They lack the power to forge a letter and read it on the floor of the House. I remained the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi Assembly. I have written to security agencies over the threat I received after the news of my press conference went viral.” In the midst of the chaos, Kingsley Ikoro, representing Afikpo North West constituency was sworn in as the new Deputy Speaker of the House by the speaker.