Benue Reps Member Ojema Ojotu Dumps PDP For APC

Ojema Ojotu, the lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in Benue State, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His defection was announced on Tuesday during the House of Representatives plenary session by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who read Ojotu’s letter of resignation from the PDP.

Before this move, the APC held 10 out of the 11 House of Representatives seats from Benue State.

Ojema Ojotu’s defection now gives the ruling party full control of all federal constituencies in the state.

In his letter, Ojotu cited ongoing internal crises within the PDP as his main reason for leaving the party, explaining that his decision followed extensive consultations with his constituents, family, and political associates.

“After consultation with his constituents, family members and political associates, I have decided to dump the PDP for the APC,” he said.

However, the defection drew objections from the opposition bench.

Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) urged the presiding officer to declare Ojotu’s seat vacant, quoting Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, which states that a lawmaker should lose their seat if they defect without evidence of division in their former party.

He said, “Honourable Speaker, I rely on Constitutional Point of Order 68 (1) (g), which says that a member’s seat should be declared vacant if he leaves the party that sponsored his election, and if there is no division in that party that brought him to power.”

Responding, House Majority Leader Ibrahim Halims countered Madaki’s motion, arguing that Ojotu had the right to leave the PDP since the party has been embroiled in unresolved internal disputes.

“When there is an unresolved crisis in a party and that party cannot resolve its crisis, the person concerned can leave to protect his future,” Halims said.

In his closing remarks, Deputy Speaker Kalu welcomed Ojotu into the APC and assured him of the party’s full support.

Ojema Ojotu currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways.

KanyiDaily recalls that a former Bayelsa East Senator Ben Murray-Bruce recently resigned from the PDP and joined the APC.