LP Sinks To Minority In Enugu Assembly As 6 Lawmakers Defect To PDP

Six Labour Party (LP) members of the Enugu State House of Assembly have finally decamped to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) officially.

They hinged their defection on the split in the LP ranks between the Julius Abure faction and the Lamidi Apapa groups.

An earlier open defection by the lawmakers last Sunday at the Okpara Square ended abruptly.

On Thursday during plenary at the Assembly complex, the lawmakers communicated their defection in a letter read by the Speaker, Hon. Uche Ugwu.

The six defectors are: Hon. Ejike Nwa Nsukka, (Igbo-Eze North 1); Hon. Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North); Hon. Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural); Hon. Pius Onyeka Ezugwu (Nsukka West); Hon. Williams T. Amuka (Igbo-Etiti East) and Hon. Osita Eze (Oji River).

The 24 Constituencies represented in the Enugu State House of Assembly were monopolised by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

However, in 2023 elections, LP won 14, seats while PDP got 10 seats and the governorship.

With the new realignment, LP now has 8 to PDP’s 16 members.

Before Thursday’s rash of defections, the seats were distributed as follows:

1. Aneke Okechukwu H (PDP) —-Udi-South Constituency.
2. Ugwu Callitus Uche (PDP) —– Udi-North Constituency.
3. Udefuna Chukwudi (LP) ——– Ezeagu Constituency.
4. Ugwu Raymond (LP) ——– Enugu East II Constituency.
5. Ugwu Obiajulu P. (LP) ——— Enugu South II Constituency.
6. Ngene Bright Emeka (LP)——– Enugu South I Constituency.
7. Aniagu Iloabuchi (PDP) ———- Nkanu West Constituency.
8. Mba Okechukwu (PDP) ———- Nkanu East Constituency.
9. Ekwueme Chukwuma (PDP) —- Uzo-Uwani Constituency.
10. Ogara Harrison (LP) ———– Igbo-Eze South Constituency.
11. Eze Ejikeme (LP) —————- Igbo-Eze North I Constituency.
12. Okoh Osita (LP) —————— Enugu East I Constituency.
13. Ezugwu Onyekachi (LP) ——– Nsukka East Constituency.
14. Osita Eze (LP) —————– Oji -River Constituency.
15. Eneh Jane Chinwe (PDP) ——- Awgu North Constituency.
16. Ede Magnus (PDP) ————– Aninri Constituency.
17. Nwankwo Anthony (PDP)—— Awgu South Constituency.
18. Ijere Obinna Anthony (LP)—– Udenu Constituency.
19. Onyechi Malachi Okey (LP)— Nsukka West Constituency.
20. Amuka Williams (LP) ———- Igbo-Etiti West Constituency.
21. Ani Johnson Samuel (LP) —— Enugu North Constituency.
22. Eze Gabriel Lebechi (LP) —— Isi-Uzo Constituency.
23. Ezeani Ezenta (PDP) ———— Igbo-Etiti East Constituency.
24. Obe Clifford Nnaemeka (PDP)– Igbo-Eze North Constituency.

According to the Speaker, the defectors took the action as a result of the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters.

“Regrettably, the party has evolved into a state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.

“The Labour Party once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of the electorate”.