Lagos ADC petitions national chairman over Reps member’s defection plan

By Vincent Kalu

Members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Okota Ward F3, and Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II, Lagos State, have petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Senator David Mark, and the Lagos State Chairman, George Ashirun, of the grave constitutional and political implications arising from the planed defection of the member representing Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a letter, entitled: “Petition against the purported defection of Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) without formal resignation of membership” signed by Sir. Chris Ihunwa, and Emeka Ihejirika, chairman and secretary respectively of Okota Ward F3, Lagos, the petitioners alleged that: “It has come to our notice, through public political activities, media engagements, party-related meetings, and open political declarations, that Hon. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi has aligned himself and commenced active participation in the affairs and activities of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), despite the fact that, to the best of our knowledge and official records, he has not formally resigned his membership from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“The constitutional provision is explicit, mandatory, and unambiguous. The Constitution does not permit an elected member of the National Assembly to be in a different political party at the same time. Consequently, his continued political affiliation with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) without proper resignation from our Party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) negates Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022 titled, “Invalidity of Multiple Nominations – Where a candidate knowingly allows himself to be nominated by more than one political party or in more than one constituency, his nomination shall be void.

“We further state that democratic mandates in Nigeria are fundamentally party-based and not merely individual-based.

“This petition is made in the interest of constitutional order, democratic accountability, political discipline, and the preservation of the rule of law.”