Why Lagos PDP Lawmaker decamped to ACN

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Badagry Constituency II, Hodewu Avoseh, who yesterday afternoon shocked his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) when he decamped to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) at the floor of the State House of Assembly, has denied that he took the action folowing his removal as the Minority Leader of the House.

The former Minority Leader also denied that his action was because he felt frustrated by the House dominated by ACN members.

Clad in a white flowing gown and full of life for the first time since he became a member of the House, the lawmaker said in a letter he wrote to declare his intention that he took the decision as a result of the developmental projects being implemented by the ACN-led administration in the state.

The letter titled ‘Defection from PDP to ACN’, and read by the Deputy Clerk of the House, Shola Ogayemi quoted the lawmaker as saying that his decision to join the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was borne out of the conviction that the party is one to beat in the state, especially in its achievements and people-oriented programmes.

“This letter serves as my formal declaration and I have consulted with my followers and loyalists and my open declaration with teeming supporters will take place very soon,” he said.

The Majority Leader of the House, Taiwo Kolawole while congratulating him, expressed joy over his decision saying: “I am very happy to witness this and this shows that the developments going on in the state are recognised. For him to have decided to join us, it means he believes in cleanliness both inwardly and outwardly.”

While welcoming the defecting lawmaker, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Ipoola Omisore, added that the remnants of the PDP are being swept away from Badagry.

Dayo Fafunmi on his part pointed out that the ACN-led administration is not a party that is only interested in developing its constituencies alone “and that is why we have spent over N1.8 billion in Badagry Constituency,” he added.

Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, in his reaction to the defection, said the lawmaker joined the ACN on his own volition without being cajoled to do so.

“The House decided to set the pace for other legislatures to follow and this House is a step ahead of others in the federation. The 40 members have worked as a team and at no time in the three years history of the House had any member been harassed or forced to join the ACN.

“Other defections that we have witnessed were as a result of force. No one has forced Avoseh to join the ACN,” he said.

—Eromosele Ebhomele