By Francesca Hangeior
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost one of its members in the House of Representatives, Chris Nkwonta to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, October 2.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen who announced the defection of the lawmaker, did not give any reason for the defection, but only said he was told to make the announcement by the House Leaders.
The announcement drew loud applause from members of the APC in the House who welcomed the defector to their fold.
However, Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) raised a point of order asking that the seat of Nkwonta be declared vacant in accordance with the provisions of section 58 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
He said while the section provides that a member can leave the party on whose platform he was elected if there is crisis in the party, the PDP was not in any crisis.
But Speaker Abbas ruled him out of order saying “information available to me indicate that there is a faction in the PDP”.
Nkwonta was however made the Chairman of the newly created House Committee on South East Development Commission, with Sunday Nnamchi grom Enugu state serving as his deputy.
The Speaker also announced the appointment of new Committee chairmen and their deputy in what look like a minor reshuffle in the committees.
Timehin Adelegbe (APC, Ondo) was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Science Research Institutions, Kabiru Ahmadi Mai palace will now head the House Committee on Sport, Abubakar Gummi heads the House Committee on North East Development Commission, Name Nkemkanma heads the Committee on Climate Change and security.
Other chairmen announced are Mohammed Mukthar as chairmen, Committee on Tourism, Zakariya Idris (Committee on Safety Standards), and Anayo Onwuegbu (Lake Chad)