Leaders of the Labour Party (LP) have taken legal action to compel the National Assembly leadership to declare the seats of the defected Labour Party lawmakers vacant.
The suit also seeks the return of all salaries, emoluments or privileges received from the date of defection.
These were contained in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, yesterday, in Abuja.
According to him, the party expresses its dismay at the betrayal of the people of Jos South/Jos East by Mr Akangbe Illiya, a man who the party and the people of Plateau State entrusted with their collective hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable society through legislation.
While acknowledging that the constitution guarantees citizens the right to freedom of association, the LP asserts that the right is qualified when it comes to political party membership.
Explaining further, Obiora indicated that the law does not protect individuals, who got the mandate of the people and a political party, only to run into another party without first surrendering the mandate they deceitfully acquired.
This defection, like others before it, he observed, was both unfortunate and condemnable