Fom Daniel Chollom, a Labour Party member of the House of Representatives, announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, citing internal party crises and a desire to collaborate with the President to advance the nation’s development.
In a letter read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen during plenary, Chollom explained that the leadership tussle within the Labour Party left him uncertain about which faction to align with, hampering effective representation. After careful reflection, he stated that joining the APC would better serve the interests of his constituents.
Chollom expressed gratitude to the Labour Party for the platform that enabled him to secure his seat but emphasized that his move to the APC was motivated by the need to contribute meaningfully to delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
Reactions from Minority Leaders
Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda criticized Chollom’s defection, arguing that he failed to follow due process. Chinda insisted that Chollom should have resigned from the Labour Party at the ward level and provided proof to the House before submitting his defection letter. He further called for Chollom’s seat to be declared vacant.
Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi went a step further, labeling defectors from the Labour Party as lacking ideology. He accused them of undermining the Labour Party’s credibility and depriving the House of high-quality representation.
Ozodinobi added, “It is disheartening that these members defect when there is no legitimate crisis in the Labour Party. Their actions are disappointing, and even the APC should be wary of trusting them.” He reiterated the call for Chollom’s seat to be declared vacant, pledging to pursue all necessary measures to achieve this.
