PDP lawmaker joins APC, gives party full control of Benue federal seats

Ojema Ojotu, a member of the House of Representatives representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in Benue State, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Deputy Speaker,  Benjamin Kalu, who presided over Tuesday’s plenary session, announced Ojotu’s defection and read the lawmaker’s letter on the floor of the Green Chamber.

Prior to this, the APC held 10 out of the 11 federal constituencies representing the North Central State in the House of Representatives. With Ojotu’s defection, the ruling APC now has full control of all Benue federal seats in the House.

In his letter, read by Kalu, Ojotu cited the ongoing crisis within the PDP as the reason for his decision.

“After consultation with my constituents, family members, and political associates, I have decided to leave the PDP for the APC,” he stated.

The defection sparked a challenge from the opposition. The House Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, urged the presiding officer to declare Ojotu’s seat vacant.

He said, “Honourable Speaker, I rely on Constitutional Point of Order 68 (1) (g), which states that a member’s seat should be declared vacant if he leaves the party that sponsored his election, and if there is no division in that party.”

This was countered by the House Majority Leader, Ibrahim Halims, who cited Order 7, arguing that “when there is an unresolved crisis in a party and that party cannot resolve it, the person concerned can leave to protect his future.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker welcomed Ojotu to the APC and assured him of the party’s support at all times.