The Lagos State House of Assembly has dismissed reports alleging that 27 lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have defected to the Labour Party. The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Olukayode, issued a strong rebuttal, emphasizing that the APC remains “united and focused.”
Describing the reports as “riddled with inaccuracies and outright falsehoods,” Olukayode reaffirmed the party’s stability.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly wishes to categorically debunk the malicious and unfounded publication alleging that twenty-seven members of the assembly are planning to defect from the ruling party to the opposition Labour Party. This publication is entirely false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public.”
False Reports Aimed at Destabilizing Lagos Politics
According to the statement, the House finds the defection rumors “offensive” and believes they serve no purpose other than to cause confusion and discord within the Assembly and among Lagosians. Olukayode reiterated that the House remains focused on governance and is not distracted by baseless speculations.
He further addressed the recent leadership changes within the House, stating that they were purely internal and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.ss the statement clarified.
No Intention to Leave APC, Says Assembly
The statement emphasized that there is no truth to the claims of defection and that all APC lawmakers remain loyal to the party’s vision. “We emphasize, without any ambiguity, that no member of the Assembly is contemplating defection,” Olukayode stated.
He reassured the public that the party remains committed to delivering its mandate to Lagosians. “We were elected under the leadership of the ruling party. The ruling party remains united and focused on delivering its mandate to the people of Lagos State. The falsehood being spread originates from agents of destabilization who seek to create unnecessary tension and division within the Assembly.”
Double Standards in Party Defections?
Interestingly, while politicians from other parties often defect to the APC without issue, APC members face intense scrutiny when there are mere speculations of defection. This raises questions about the double standards in Nigerian politics, why is it acceptable for opposition lawmakers to join APC, but not the other way around?
Despite the controversy, the APC lawmakers in Lagos remain resolute in their commitment to governance, dismissing the defection rumors as mere distractions. The Lagos Assembly has made it clear that the party is intact, focused, and ready to serve the people of Lagos.
