As the struggle for the control of the votes from Ajaokuta Federal Constituency in Kogi state, the All Progressive congress has written to the speaker, House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to ensure the stoppage and refund of the salaries, constituency projects and all allowances so far received by Honourable Lawal Idirisu, representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency.
The APC through her counsel J.U. Usman in a letter written to the office of the Speaker, House of Representatives, a copy was made available to Daily independent on Wednesday in Lokoja.
The APC urged the Speaker to declare his seat vacant pursuant to his defection from the APC as contained in section 68(1) (G) and (2) of the 1999 constitution as amended .
According to the letter which reads in part”
“That our clients’ are voters with voting points within Ajaokuta Federal Constituency who participated in the 2019 General Elections and massively voted in HON. LAWAL MUHAMMAD U IDIRISU who later emerged as the winner under the platform of the APC.
“That HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU was a member of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) and got elected on the platform of APC in the 2019 National Assembly elections to represent Ajaokuta Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
“That sometimes in May, 2022 knowing that he was elected on the platform of APC to
serve between 2019 to 2023, the said HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDRIS defected to New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) where he emerged as the flag bearer on the 20th day of May, 2022, respect of 2023 General Elections for House of Representatives, Ajaokuta Federal Constituency before the expiration of the period for which the current House of Representatives was elected.
“That premised on the above, it is common knowledge that the aforesaid HON.
LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU automatically lost his seat at the House of
Representatives as a member representing the good people of Ajaokuta Federal
constituency having regards to section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20 wherein the Federal high court, Abuja sacked Hon. Yakubu Dogara for defecting from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressive Congress.
“That despite all these the said HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU has been
drawing salaries, allowances and constituency project funds on the false believe that he is still a member of the House of Representatives.
” That you are empowered by the virtue of the provision of Section 68 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended to declare his seat vacant having defected from APC, the party whose platform he was elected to NNPP, another party whose platform he was not elected to the House of Representatives. It is against the law to further participate in the business activities of the House after defection by HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU.
” That it is in view of the foregoing that we passionately appeal to your highly esteemed office to immediately declare his seat vacant, order for the immediate refund of salaries, allowances and constituency project funds wrongfully and illegally paid to HON. LAWAL MUHAMMADU IDIRISU and to forthwith stop further payments to him as he is no longer a member of the House of Representatives upon his defection to NNPP by virtue of section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) representing the good people of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency” The APC demanded.
While the APC believed strongly that the office of the speaker would act promptly as the good people of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency are awaiting to hear from him, said, failure to treat the letter with urgency will cause irreparable damage and hardship on the good people of the constituency.
