The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday lost two more members of the House of Representatives from Cross River state to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
The two members are Rep. Idagbo Ochiglegor representing Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwarra and Rep. Michael Etaba representing Obubra/Eating federal Constituencies of Cross River state.
In their separate letters read at Tuesday plenary by the Speaker, the lawmakers said they decided to leave the PDP as a result of crisis within the main opposition party.
However, Deputy Minority Leader, Rep Toby Okechukwu, raising a point of constitutional order drew the attention of the House to section 68 of the constitution which requires defecting lawmakers to vacate their seat.
He dismissed claims by the defecting lawmakers of a crisis existing within the PDP, saying there was no single crisis within the party.
Okechukwu regretted that members of the House have continued to violate constitutional provisions by remaining on their seat after defection, adding that the House should decide whether to be a House that obeys the law or a House that breaks the law.
He insisted that the two lawmakers should be made to vacate their seats in the House.
While noting the point of order, Speaker, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila the fact that two members of the party defected on the same day is an indication of an existing crisis.
He however said that it was only the court that can decide on the issue of whether there is a crisis or not.
The defection of the two lawmakers is coming few weeks after Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade joined the APC and many more lawmakers from state loyal to the governor are expected to follow suit in the coming days.
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