Kogi Assembly suspends members

THE Kogi State House of Assembly yesterday suspended two of its members  for defecting to another political party although there was no crisis in their respective parties.

The two members are Henry Ojuola and Funsho Daniel from Mopa Muro and Yagba East, respectively. Ojuola was elected on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)  but served  as running mate in the gubernatorial election for Action Congress of Nigeria. Daniel was elected on the ANPP platform and defected  to the PDP in September.               .

Both men were suspended following an ANPP petition declaring their positions vacant for leaving the platform on which they won elections into the assembly.

Speaker Momoh Lawal Jimoh told the House that about two months ago,  its former leadership had been informed by the ANPP about the defection.                  .

According to the ANPP October 20, 21012, letter signed by Patrick Daudu and Issac Ainoko, Chairman and Secretary, stated the grounds for which they seek that the two seats b declared vacant include the violation of section 109(1)(g) of the constitution of Nigeria, “the fact that there was no record of division or merger with the later parties the members under reference choose to belong under the provision of section 109(109)(g) of the Nigerian constitution.”

A three-man adhoc committee was constituted to investigate the petition.

The House also resolved to condemn the Kogi State Police Commisioner whom it accused of sealing off the assembly premises, adding that it will make an official report to the office of the Inspector General of Police.