Uncertainty is growing among some federal lawmakers about their planned defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid the party’s leadership crisis.
The uncertainty follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s refusal to recognise the National Working Committee led by former Senate President, David Mark, pending the determination of a leadership dispute before the court.
The lawmaker representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, Mansur Soro, who was earlier expected to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ADC, said consultations were still ongoing.
Speaking with Sunday Punch, Soro said a final decision on his political future would be taken soon.
“We are still consulting and we’ll decide in the next one week,” he said when asked whether his planned move to the ADC remained unchanged despite INEC’s decision not to recognise the Mark-led NWC.
Similarly, Jesse Onuakalusi, a Lagos lawmaker whose defection from the Labour Party to the ADC was recently announced on the floor of the House of Representatives, declined to disclose his next move if the leadership crisis in the party persists.
When asked about his options should the controversy remain unresolved, the lawmaker declined to comment.
“What do you mean by if the controversy is not resolved? I don’t want to talk about this issue for now,” he said.
INEC Action Not Cause For Alarm — Okonkwo
However, the lawmaker representing Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Uchenna Okonkwo, downplayed the significance of INEC’s decision, expressing optimism that the dispute would eventually be resolved through legal processes.
He said, “The Court of Appeal did not ask INEC to yank off anybody’s name. The court said the status quo should be maintained but the umpire chose to interpret it the way it deemed it.
“As far as we are concerned, this is not cause for alarm as we are optimistic that the issue would be resolved.”
Okonkwo further stated that regardless of the outcome of the leadership crisis within the ADC, a former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, would likely influence the direction many defecting lawmakers would take.
He said, “It is unfortunate that people are not being allowed to exercise their democratic choice to decide where they want to be.
“Those who are celebrating today are reminded that the challenges we face as a people are party neutral. Poor power supply, cost of fuel and high living conditions affect all.”
