By Ugo Nnamdi

It is often said that history is a good teacher, while party loyalty and supremacy in politics are supreme, unalloyed, unflinching and sacrosanct. 

This reminds me how the minority Labour Party members in Abia State House of Assembly in 2023 produced both Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and others against the Peoples Democratic Party dominated House without any resistance and qualms. 

It would be recalled that after 2023 elections, PDP won 11 House of Assembly seats in Abia State, Labour Party won 10, YPP- 2 and APC-1.

All things being equal, Labour Party members shouldn't have occupied virtually every leadership positions, including that of majority leadership positions, but they did. And nothing has happened or changed since then. This is despite the PDP House of Assembly members' public outcry and agitation against it. 

To the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti and the Labour Party leadership in the state, that is the only and sure way to reward Labour Party members in the House for being loyal and committed to the party during the elections that culminated to Labour Party winning the governorship election in the state. That is also how the ruling Labour Party led government in the state can enjoy continous and harmonious relationships with the State House of Assembly. 

The recent defection of two PDP House of Assembly members to Labour Party in Abia State has not changed anything in the leadership of the House and may not change anything even if the 11 PDP members defect at once to Labour Party. 

This is because the LP led government in the state and the State Labour party leadership are not ready to trade away or abandon their foundation and loyal members in the House of Assembly for mere traitors and food- is- ready members of the opposition turned Labour Party's defectors.

In Enugu State, the case was different. While the minority PDP members of House of Assembly produced Speaker, Deputy and other minority leadership positions in the House, Labour Party opposition members produced majority leadership positions in the House.  

This remained the situation with the executive and legislature enjoying good relationships and cooperation, until the pre and post election cases of members were dispensed in the final court and six LP members of the House defected to the PDP, thereby making PDP majority party with 18 members in House. 

The defection, which many including loyal PDP and Labour Party members and lovers of democracy described as illegal and questionable, despite the defectors' insinuations and propaganda that they acted on the Governor Mbah's request and appeal has started rearing its ugly head in House.

This is as feelers has it the six desperate LP defectors in connivance with some dishonest and mischievous PDP House of Assembly members, led by one of the House leaders have discreetly and desperately commenced selfish moves to disrupt the leadership status quo in the House and destabilize Governor Mbah's government for their personal benefits and at expense of peace in the state, at the detriment of their party and loyal party members that stood with the party in the time of need.

This is despite the fact that some PDP House of Assembly candidates were pressured to withdraw their cases against these defectors in court. This ugly development, emerging scenario and feelers from the House of Assembly is very dangerous, inimical and detrimental to PDP's dominance and control in the State House of Assembly.   

These members were disgruntled PDP remnants and beneficiaries, who out of desperation and relcacitrance defied the supremacy and leadership of PDP in 2023 to jump into opposition Labour Party and won elections on the bandwagon effect of Mr. Peter Obi's presidential ambition only to suddenly defect to PDP for continous political survival and relevance.

Have loyal and committed PDP members including Governor Mbah, party leadership and Speaker Uche Ugwu forgotten so soon the irreparable damage these LP defectors did to the PDP in 2023 elections, including making and writing libelous, scandalous and defamatory articles and statements against Governor Mbah and other PDP candidates that made majority of them to lose elections for the first time in the since1999? 

Have they forgotten that these Labour Party defectors members of House of Assembly were taken to Abia State where they swore oath of allegiance to their paymasters and leaders, that are still fighting and attacking Governor Mbah's government and PDP till date? 

If one may ask; What is the political value or worth of these Labour Party defectors House of Assembly members, apart from the fact they capitalized on the wave of Mr. Peter Obi's presidential ambition to win elections at ease in 2023? If they believed in their capacity and popularity, why the hurry to defect the same PDP they called evil and all sorts of name in 2023? 

Allowing the six PDP prodigal sons turned Labour Party defectors in Enugu State House of Assembly to hijack or influence the leadership of the House under any disguise will amount to political suicide and height of insensitivity by the PDP led government in the state ahead of 2027. 

Despite their circumstantial and controversial defection to PDP for survival and relevance, they and their activities should be kept under strict scrutiny and monitoring by the PDP leadership and members to ascertain their level of loyalty.

Again, allowing these desperate Labour Party House of Assembly defectors to lead or dictate activities and decisions in the PDP will amount to grave injustice, rewarding of disloyalty, sabotage and betrayal in the party politics, which PDP should be prepared or ready to reap in abundance again in 2027 especially in Enugu North Senatorial zone.

It is obvious that these defectors are being sponsored and funded from the House and outside to hijack Assembly leadership, hence Governor Mbah should watch his back carefully. After all, it was this same mistake of rewarding of disloyalty, conspiracy and obstinacy that contributed to PDP abysmal performance in 2023 elections. 

Allowing the six Labour Party House of Assembly members defectors to take over some majority leadership positions in the House means that PDP leadership and PDP led government in Enugu State have not learned anything from the outcome of 2023 polls and are not ready to learn anything ahead of 2027 elections. 

It is certain that if Labour Party had won the governorship election in Enugu State, these six Labour Party House of Assembly members wouldn't have defected to PDP. The LP government in Enugu State won't even accommodate defecting PDP House of Assembly members, talk more of allowing or trusting them with any majority party leadership positions in the House.