PDP seeks replacement of Bwacha with Shaibu Lau as Deputy Minority Leader

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday disclosed writing the Senate seeking the appointment of Senator Shaibu Lau, representing Taraba North in the National Assembly, for the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, to replace Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, representing Taraba South, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Bwacha had last Thursday notified the Senate of his decision to decamp from the PDP to the APC, citing factionalisation and division in the PDP in Taraba State.

Senator George Sekibo, raising a point of order, had argued that the constitution is clear that a lawmaker must retain his or her seat until the end of that tenure and can only defect to another party if there is a division in the party and the evidence of the division must be brought before the House.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, however, ruled Sekibo out of order, saying that Senator Bwacha understands the political situation in his state better than Sekibo.

It was acknowledged that Bwacha had notified the PDP National Headquarters of his decision to quit the party, and the party, therefore, appointed Senator Shuaibu Lau to replace Bwacha as the Deputy Minority Leader.

The PDP, therefore, sought the recognition of Senator Shuaibu Lau by the Senate leadership and other senators as the party’s Deputy Minority Leader in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.