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The turmoil engulfing the Labour Party (LP) shows no signs of abating. Recently, Mr. Ajang Iliya, the serving member of the House of Representatives for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, announced his defection from the LP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a similar vein, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate for Bayelsa State in the 2023 election, along with his running mate, Commodore Benjamin Nathus (retired), has also declared their resignations from the party.
Iliya’s switch follows a recent exodus of five LP members from the House just last week.
During Thursday’s plenary session, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas revealed Iliya’s defection, attributing it to the ongoing crisis within the LP’s leadership and related issues.
In his letter, Iliya expressed his growing misalignment with the LP’s current positions.
In Bayelsa, it has also emerged that most local government chairmen from the party chose to follow Eradiri and Nathus in leaving the LP.
Eradiri formally submitted his resignation letter to the state chairman of the party in Yenagoa.
Dated December 8 and titled ‘Letter of Withdrawal as Labour Party Member,’ Eradiri stated that he made this decision to pursue his political career with a platform aligned with the leadership Bayelsa deserves.
He expressed gratitude to the party’s members and shared that he is in the midst of serious consultations to determine his next political platform that would allow him to serve the people effectively.
Having finished third in the gubernatorial election, Eradiri noted that his choice had the backing of his loyalists, highlighting the rewarding experience of working together politically and engaging with every part of the state in their leadership quest.
He stated, “However, we faced significant challenges and intrigues within the party leadership that hindered our progress. We are actively consulting and engaging with all stakeholders to identify the next political party to join.
“Our next party of choice will be one that enables us to serve the people and advance Bayelsa.”
In his withdrawal letter, Commodore Benjamin Nathus (Retd) echoed similar sentiments, stating that his decision was driven by a desire for a platform dedicated to fostering leadership that would steer Bayelsa towards a brighter, more prosperous future.
He remarked, “I am profoundly grateful for the support and camaraderie of the party members who shared our vision for a thriving Bayelsa and provided me with the opportunity to serve as deputy gubernatorial candidate. This journey has been enriched by invaluable experiences and insights.”
Nathus expressed his honour in working alongside dedicated colleagues and engaging significantly with communities in the pursuit of transformative governance.