Count Us Out, We Can’t Decamp To PDP —ACN Reps Members

Lagos Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, House of Representatives members-elect have denied claims that they have been asked to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP so that they could get the deputy speakership position.

The lawmakers, who were at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office yesterday to collect their certificates of return, said it was never true and that they could not defect to the PDP just to get the deputy speakership position.

Speaking with P.M.NEWS, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, representing Mushin II Federal Constituency said it was not possible for ACN members to defect to the PDP.

He said the idea was retrogressive and runs counter to the ideologies of the ACN and could never happen, while counting himself out.

Hamzat stated that the reports carried by one of the dailies could not be true, saying that “I have not been consulted about it. I have not been contacted. The idea is at variance with the tenets and grand norms of the Action Congress of Nigeria.

“We cannot entertain it. By the grace of God, all my colleagues in the opposition wing will not defect to the PDP,” he stated.

He stated that what he and his colleagues were concerned about was how to lobby for a special status for Lagos State at the National Assembly, saying that “we will liaise with other politicians to ensure this is done. Lagos should have a special funding and I see no reason why we should not get 13 percent derivation.”

Hamzat said he is going to the National Assembly to promote bills and issues that would deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituency as well as Lagos as a whole.

Speaking, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, representing Surulere Federal Constituency II said there was no such thing in the pipeline, saying that the ACN lawmakers were ready to stand by the party and would not decamp to PDP.

“If there is a move like that being initiated by the ruling party, it is already a wasted effort. The ACN lawmakers are not under pressure to dump the party. It is unrealistic and false because our programmes and philosophies are absolutely different from that of the ruling party,” he stated.

According to Hon. Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency I, the report was speculative, saying that the ACN lawmakers were positioning themselves to make meaningful input into the legislative process.

He said that the new Electoral Act as amended did not give room for haphazard defection as contained in the report, adding that it was a total violation of the electoral law if the ACN lawmakers “defect. Such a move is not just speculative; it is equally illegal. ACN lawmakers cannot be party to it.”

Also speaking, Hon. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, denounced the report, saying that he did not see any reason why the ACN lawmakers should defect to the PDP just to get positions in the House.

Hon. Yakub Balogun, representing Lagos Island Federal Constituency II said he would co-operate with other ACN lawmakers to lobby for the listing of the 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDA in the constitution in order to make them legal entity.

He added that he would ensure that youths in his area were empowered in order to keep them busy and eke out a living for themselves.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga