Kwara Speaker,19 Lawmakers Join APC

Twenty members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, defected yesterday to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The 24-member House had only two APC lawmakers from Offa Local Government Area.
In a letter to the Speaker, Razak Atunwa, the former PDP members hinged their defection on the division in the PDP.

They backed their action with constitutional provisions as contained in Section 109 (1) (g).
The Speaker said PDP had suffered fragmentation, leading to the emergence of two factions.
He said the resignation of former PDP National Chairman Bamanga Tukur had nothing to do with their stand and would not change their positions.
Atunwa added that efforts aimed at resolving the differences between the factions were frustrated.
Said he: “It is clear that from August 30, last year, when some delegates walked out of the Eagles Square Convention to hold a parallel PDP convention at the Yar’ Adua Centre, factions were established.

“All reports have been awashed with reference to either the Baraje faction (commonly referred to as ‘new PDP’ or ‘nPDP’) or the Bamanga Tukur faction.
“I, and the rest of the members who have today changed party to the APC, belonged to the ‘new PDP’ faction.
“The decision to leave the PDP was not made without thorough evaluation and extensive consultations. However, it was clear that PDP was fast becoming a sinking ship inhabited by self-serving egomaniacs.
“Governance at the national level has been transformed into ‘elective dictatorship’. Parliament has been the focus of attack, both physically and figuratively. Laws and resolutions passed by the House of Representatives have been disregarded.
“The Rivers State House of Assembly has been under siege and remains closed.
“Speaker and principal officers of the Kano State House of Assembly were arrested simply for passing a Supplementary Budget into Law,” he said.
“I am proud of those of us in this House, who have taken a stand against the slide of this country into the abyss.
“Assuredly, our principled stand will be recorded in history as pivotal in saving this country from the precipice of failure. There must be change.”