BEVERLY HILLS, October 05, (THEWILL) – The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has lost two House of Representatives seats to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, following the defection of the member representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency of the FCT, Zephaniah Jisalo, and his Okene/Ogori-Magogo constituency of Kogi State counterpart, Yusuf Tijjani.
Both Jisalo and Tijjani notified the House of their defection in a letter read on the floor by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday, predicating their action on division in the respective state chapters of their party.
Opposing the move, Minority Whip of the House, Umar Barde, cited Section 68 of Nigerian constitution which states that a legislator will automatically vacate his seat if he/she leaves his political party without division.
In his ruling however, the Speaker stated that only the court could decide what becomes of the seats of the defected members.
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