More defections loom in the House of Reps, says lawmaker
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the lawmaker added that they had monitored and had seen that the pdp had taken corrective measures1 a house of representatives member rep. abdulrazak atunwa who with 36 others defected from all progressives congress apc on tuesday said more members would leave the party in the coming weeks1 the legislator said that they believed in respect for the rule of law improved education social welfare of the people as the men women and youth of the country deserved better among other ideals1 sadly no sooner we formed government in may 2015 the party put itself on course to be derailed and that derailment has continued to today1 some of us have been agitating that we should go back to the ideals that brought us together but the party was not listening1 the party rather embarked on victimization and criminalisation of its members those perceived as opponents and have divergent views he said1 he said that the party set itself on the line of destruction when the aggrieved members brought up their concerns but were castigated and referred to as inconsequential and as nobody1 putting all that together and the interest of the country particularly as the apc has derailed from the ideals that will propel nigeria to advance we felt we have to take this step we took today he said1 atunwa said the defectors were interested in economic development respect for parliament and rule of law while the apc was concerned about membership to form majority1 he however said that the pdp in the past three years had learnt its lesson1 briefing newsmen in company of some of the members who moved to the peoples democratic party pdp atunwa said that tuesdays defection was just the first batch of members that would leave the apc1 he said that having been beaten at the polls in 2015 the pdp had got its acts together and was now a reformed party adding that it was the reason they felt confident to return to the party1 also rep. hassan saleh who also defected said that from the ward congress up to the national convention of the apc no fewer than 25 states in the country had parallel congresses1 he questioned the process that brought about the national convention given the issues at ward levels saying that the foundation was faulty1 according to him we cannot continue to hide our faces like nothing is wrong when the problem is there1 rep. alliyu madaki said some of the defectors joined the apc because it campaigned and promised to ensure security of lives and properties1 he said section 14 of the constitution said that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and properties of nigerians1 according to him nobody is safe today in nigeria under the pdp administration l could drive from abuja to kano with myb eyes closed but now i depend on consistent prayer to arrive safely1 the news agency of nigeria nan reports that 33 lawmakers in the lower chambers defected from the apc to pdp four others to african democratic party adc while one resigned1 the house however adjourned to proceed on eight weeks break and will resume plenary on sept. 251