By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, has been asked to declare vacant the seat of Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District.
Mr Ubah was elected to represent the senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly under the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) but last week, he defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to this development, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) claimed the defection of the oil businessman was most likely to free him of his cases with the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema, the CNPP vowed to rally allied civil society organisations in the country after 14 days to compel Mr Akpabio to give effect to the provisions of section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) by seat of Mr Ubah.
According to the group, efforts would be made to force the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to revisit many unresolved corruption allegations against the Capital Oil chief at the expiration of its 14-day ultimatum, saying that “APC’s ideology of forgiving the sins of defectors into the party is detrimental to the deepening of democracy and a hindrance to the rule of law in Nigeria.”
“It is not surprising that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s defection and the withdrawal of the Federal High Court case of alleged N135 billion indebtedness brought against him and his company, Capital Oil and Gas Limited, by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) happened almost within 48 hours.
“The charge was struck out by Justice Nicholas Oweibo following an oral application by counsel for AMCON, Oluwaseun Onabowu, seeking the withdrawal of the suit.
“Therefore, Nigerians have every reason to believe that the APC government cleared Senator Ubah and Capital Oil to pave the way for his immediate defection to the ruling party.
“It was obvious, even to the blind, that Ifeanyi Ubah’s claim of being impressed by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda was a false reason.
“Senator Ubah had also claimed that the APC’s commitment to good governance, economic development and social progress were part of the reasons for his defection whereas the provisions of section 68 of the constitution are very clear on cross-carpeting by elected National Assembly members.
“Every informed observer can quickly deduce that it was a type of defect and have your sins forgiven arrangement, in an attempt to rob the people of Anambra South Senatorial District who voted YPP of their constitutional rights to choose a political party to vote into any position,” the CNPP said in the statement.
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