By Onyekachi Eze
If what Trumpeta Newspaper gathered is to be considered, then, there is every reason to be worried, as defection looms in the Imo State House of Assembly led by Rt Hon Paul Emeziem.
Aside being an effect of the suspension handed on six of the House Members, the Lawmakers who are of the APC blamed lack of welfare as another strong factor.
Recall that during the short lived tenure of the PDP’s administration in the State under Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, over eighteen Lawmakers cross carpeted from their political parties to the PDP.
At that point, they said it was to get democracy dividends for their constituency.
After the January 12, 2019 Supreme Court verdict that sacked Chief Ihedioha to favour the APC candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma as the Governor, Imo State House of Assembly, witnessed another mass exodus from PDP/APGA to APC.
Barely two years after, the language appears to be changing again, following a suspected disaffection in the house.
The Lawmakers woke up one day, and signed the impeachment papers that sacked the former, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins as Speaker.
Among the allegations levelled against Chiji by the 9th House of Imo Assembly bordered on Financial impropriety, bias, and alleged poor treatment towards them.
That action led to the emergence of, Rt Hon Paul Emeziem.
However, the Members are said to be staging a walk-out from APC given their ordeals, even as members in the majority, Trumpeta learnt.
A male Lawmaker from Owerri zone who spoke under strict anonymity fumed that there is no need remaining in APC, if they cannot be protected and made the envy of others.
Unless their request and conditions are met, the defection would likely hit APC more.
It was further gathered that in order to lure them into APC, they were promised to be well taken care of, including the allocation of lands, constituency projects fund, House, security, wardrobe allowances.
They revealed that till now, there is nothing unique that distinguished them as those in the ruling party.
The aggrieved members stated that there is no difference between them and those in the PDP minority caucus.
“If after sacrificing the support we enjoyed while in our old parties to join the APC, and there is no atom of protection from the Governor, I think it would be wise to return to the root;
“Without any justifiable reason, members of the APC were suspended. Up till now, the Governor has remained silent. That shows how he regards us in the majority”, the Lawmaker enthused.
Another burning factor is the situation where they have been allegedly prevented from seeing the Governor by the Leadership of the House.
