The political landscape of the Edo State House of Assembly may be on the verge of a significant shift following the defection of three lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The defections are expected to strengthen the NDC’s presence in the Assembly and could position the party as the leading opposition force within the legislative chamber.
The Edo State Chairman of the NDC, Babatunde Olukoga, formally communicated the development in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku.
According to the letter, the lawmakers who have joined the NDC are Charity Aiguobarhueghian, representing Ovia North-East I Constituency; Natasha Osawaru, representing Egor Constituency; and Omosigho Frank, representing Oredo East Constituency.
Olukoga also informed the House of the party’s nominees for key minority leadership positions, naming Natasha Osawaru as Minority Leader and Omosigho Frank as Minority Whip.
“This is to notify the Edo State House of Assembly of the defection of three members to the NDC. We are also informing the House of those that have been nominated as officers of the minority in the Assembly,” the letter stated.
However, the announcement was met with immediate procedural objections during plenary.
Majority Leader Jonathan Ibhamawu argued that the communication could not be entertained because the affected lawmakers had yet to formally announce their defections on the floor of the House, a step he said is required by legislative procedure.
According to Ibhamawu, the lawmakers must personally declare their new political affiliation before any correspondence from their new party can be officially recognised by the Assembly.
Following the objection, Speaker Agbebaku declined to act on the letter and subsequently stepped down consideration of the matter.
The Speaker, however, assured members that the issue would be revisited once all necessary procedures had been duly followed.
