The Labour Party has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio a three-day ultimatum to declare the seat of Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi vacant, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party warned that failure to comply would lead to legal action to reclaim the mandate given by the Imo East electorates.
In a letter to the Senate President, the party expressed regret over supporting Onyewuchi, who was defeated in the PDP primary election, and accused him of betraying the trust of the party that revived his political career.
The party demands that Onyewuchi’s seat be declared vacant to reflect his change in party affiliation.
The Labour Party’s publicity secretary in Imo State, Bright Ofurum, stated that Onyewuchi’s defection was a “shameless and dishonourable” act, and that the party would not miss him. He noted that Onyewuchi had not attended any party meetings or functions since being sworn into the Senate.
The party reminded Onyewuchi that defecting from a party that sponsored and supported him at a difficult time in his political career was a “big political suicide” with serious consequences.
“Having contested and won the Imo East Senatorial seat on the platform of our great party LP, Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi is carrying the mandate of our party as well as that of Imo East Senatorial Zone, suffice to point out crystal clear that the Imo East electorates passionately voted for our Party and not him as a person, he cannot carry our mandate to APC.
“In the light of the current development and in line with the letters and spirit of the 1999 Constitution as amended, we request Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi to do the needful and resign immediately from the Senate following his shameful defection.
“Furthermore, we respectfully call on the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio to immediately declare Sen. Ezenwa Onyewuchi’s seat in the Senate vacant in line with section 68(2) of the Constitution.
“Our party hereby gives the Senate President 3 days to declare Sen. Onyewuchi’s seat vacant otherwise we shall approach the Court to reclaim the mandate freely given to our Party by Imo East electorates who placed their love & support in us,” the party added.
