ADP Warns Senate Against Selective Defection Law Use

The Action Democratic Party (ADP), led by Chairman Yabagi Yusuf Sani, has issued a warning to the Nigerian Senate regarding the selective application of the defection law. This statement follows comments made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, suggesting that Enyinnaya Abaribe's Senate seat could be declared vacant due to alleged defection.

The ADP emphasized that Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly states that a member of the National Assembly vacates their seat upon becoming a member of another political party, except in cases of division or merger within the original party. The party referenced several judicial pronouncements, including the Supreme Court ruling in the cases of Amaechi v.

INEC (2007) and Abegund v. Ondo State House Assembly (2015), which established that electoral mandates belong to political parties rather than individual candidates.

The ADP urged the Senate leadership to apply constitutional provisions uniformly to maintain public confidence in the legislature.