A federal lawmaker and member representing Jaba/Zango Kataf in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hon. Magaji who was voted into office on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) cited internal wranglings in the PDP as reason for his defection.
He said the PDP suffers from persistent crises at both national and local levels as his primary reason for leaving, Magaji expressed his gratitude to the APC for their warm reception and emphasized his commitment to better serving his constituents under his new party affiliation.
The lawmaker, a two-term member of the House of Representatives, serves as the Chairman of both the House Committee on Health Care Services and the Kaduna caucus.
He also holds the position of Deputy Chairman on the House Special Ad-hoc Committee on the Restructuring of Government Agencies and Commissions, which is reviewing the recommendations of the Stephen Oronsaye report.
Throughout his tenure in the House of Representatives, Magaji has contributed to several committees, including Defense, Reformation Institutions, Rules & Business, Christian Pilgrimage, Police Affairs, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils.
He also represents Kaduna State in the House Committee on Constitutional Review.
In response to Magaji’s defection, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda urged Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to declare Magaji’s seat vacant. Chinda referenced Section 68(1g) of the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing that while lawmakers have the right to switch parties, such actions come with consequences, including the potential loss of their seats.
Citing Section 68 (1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution, Chinda emphasized that members of the House are lawmakers, not lawbreakers.
He noted that while the law permits any member to leave the party on whose platform they were elected, it also outlines the consequences of such an action, including losing their seat.
He argued that the lawmaker has not complied with these legal provisions and should therefore forfeit his seat.
