Nasarawa Assembly Declares Member’s Seat Vacant Over Defection

The Nasarawa House of Assembly, on Wednesday declared the seat of a member representing Wamba constituency, Makpa Malla, vacant for defecting from the All Progressives Congress.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Malla’s letter of defection was read by the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, during plenary in Lafia.

The speaker, after reading the letter, called for investigation into the matter before the House could take any decision.

The House Majority Leader, Tanko Tunga, thereafter, moved a motion that Malla’s seat be declared vacant, which was received with voice votes from other members.

After reading the letter to the House, the Speaker said: “My colleagues, this letter is from Hon. Makpa Malla, member representing Wamba constituency that he is defecting from the APC.

“Makpa cited alleged division in the APC, emergence of R-APC and APC leadership as reasons for his defection.

“He, however, did not mention the party Malla is defecting to.

“I wanted us to investigate the matter based on the reasons he gave for his defection, but with the voice votes put on all the members, my hands are tight.

“I hereby declare his seat vacant.”

The speaker directed the clerk to House to communicate the development officially to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Tunga, while moving the motion seeking to declare the member’s seat vacant, cited various sections of the constitution supporting the action of the assembly.

He maintained that the member also failed to state the party he was defecting to, hence the need to declare his seat vacant.

Daniel Ogazi, the Deputy Majority leader of the House seconded the motion.