The Labour Party (LP) on Thursday said it has filed actions in an unnamed court to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of its defected lawmakers vacant.

According to the party, the suit also seeks that every salary, emolument or privileges received by the defectors from the date of defection, be returned to LP.

The party said this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Party, Obiora Ifoh on Thursday in Abuja.

The House of Representatives member representing Jos South/Jos East, Akangbe Illiya on Thursday announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress.

This brings the number of lawmakers who have left the party to the APC to five rep members.

The party condemned the defection like similar ones before it, saying it was ?quite unfortunate and condemnable.?

The statement reads: ?The leadership of the Labour Party again received with dismay news of the betrayal of the people of Jos South/Jos East by Mr. Akangbe Illiya, a man whom the Labour Party and the people of Plateau State entrusted with their collective hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable society through legislation.

?Hon. Illiya who just engraved his name on the Labour Party ?Hall of Shame? Register has brought dishonour to himself through this action.

?While it is true that the constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association, the constitution qualifies such rights regarding the membership of political parties.

?The law does not protect an individual who steals the mandate of a people and a political party to run into another without first surrendering the mandate he deceitfully acquired.

?This defection like similar ones before it is quite unfortunate and condemnable. Section 68(g) of the 1999 constitution is emphatic on when to defect and what happens when a lawmaker sponsored by a political party decides to jump ship.

?It is unnecessary probing why most of the defectors chose the All Progressives Congress (APC) as their destination point and why the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abass has refused to respect the provisions of the constitution by declaring their seats vacant.

?However, those politicians who have chosen to abandon the people at this crucial time in their lives are the ones who deserve pity because they have exposed themselves as unworthy of our collective trust going forward.

?Meanwhile, the Party has since filed actions in the court to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of the defected Labour Party lawmakers vacant. The suit also seeks that every salary, emolument or privileges received, from the date of defection, be returned,? the party said. (The Nation)

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