The Labour Party Vice Chairman for the South East Zone, Hon. Ceekay Igara, has categorically stated that the Labour Party is not aware of the defection of Hon. Dennis Rowland Ceaser from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party.
This development comes amidst a series of internal crises within both the PDP and the Labour Party.
On Monday, November 4, 2024, Hon. Ceaser, who represents Isialangwa South at the Abia State House of Assembly, officially defected to the Labour Party. His defection letter was read on the floor of the house by the Speaker. In his statement, Hon. Ceaser cited internal party crises as the primary reason for his decision to leave the PDP.
This move follows his recent suspension by his ward within the PDP, which accused him of engaging in anti-party activities.
Specifically, he was reprimanded for publicly praising the Governor of Abia State and reportedly endorsing him for a second term.
Labour party
Hon. Ceaser’s suspension highlights the growing tensions within the PDP, particularly regarding political allegiances and support for incumbent leaders.
Hon. Ceaser is the second high-profile figure the PDP has suspended for similar reasons. The first was Sen. Adolphus Wabara, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of the PDP.
This suspension sparked intense debate within the party, prompting intervention from the National Working Committee (NWC), which ultimately set aside the suspension.
In response to Hon. Ceaser’s defection, Hon. Ceekay Igara, speaking on Enyimba FM during the program “Issues and Views,” expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the move. He questioned how Hon. Ceaser could claim to have joined the Labour Party when there is no record of his registration with any Labour Party ward in Abia State.
“I heard a lawmaker in Abia had defected to the party, I called the state Chairman Prince Ndubueze,he said there is no such thing”, Ceekay Igara stated
Furthermore, Igara pointed out that Hon. Ceaser appeared to be seeking refuge with the Governor rather than genuinely aligning with the Labour Party.
“It is not the duty of the governor to receive those that defected to party, when the Ypp lawmakers from Osisioma defected labour party, the party received them and I handed them over to the Governor”, Igara said
Meanwhile, the Labour Party itself is grappling with its own leadership challenges. At the national level, the Appeal Court recently affirmed Julius Abure as the authentic National Chairman of the party. However, in Abia State, Prince Ndubueze remains the acting State Chairman, reflecting ongoing disputes over leadership roles.
These internal struggles have significantly impacted the party’s performance in recent elections. During the local government elections held on November 2, 2024, the Labour Party suffered a major setback in Abia State, losing all seats to the other parties,Zenith Labour Party won 15 seats while young progressive party (YPP) won two.
This electoral loss underscores the urgent need for the party to address its internal divisions and strengthen its organizational structure if it hopes to regain political relevance in the state and Nationally.
As the political landscape in Abia State continues to evolve, the defections, suspensions, and leadership disputes within both the PDP and the Labour Party highlight the complexities and challenges facing Nigeria’s political parties.
Moving forward, these parties must navigate these issues carefully to maintain credibility and public trust.
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