Defection: Senator Dachungyang Must Vacate Plateau North Seat – ADP
The Action Democratic Party, ADP, has reaffirmed its position that Senator Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang, must immediately vacate the Plateau North Senatorial seat following his voluntary defection from the Party, describing claims of crisis within ADP as false, misleading, and constitutionally irrelevant.
According to the National Chairman of the party, Engr Yabagi Y Sani, on Saturday in Abuja, the ADP’s position is strictly anchored on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which clearly provides that any legislator elected on the platform of a political party shall vacate his seat upon defection, except where such defection arises from a division or merger within the sponsoring party.
Recall that Senator Dachungyang, representing Plateau North Senatorial zone, defected from the party along with Governor Caleb Mutfwang to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in a grand ceremony in Jos, after submitting a personal letter of resignation from the ADP.
“There is no division, merger, or factionalisation within the party, at the national or state levels. The Senator’s defection was voluntary and self-admitted, therefore, falls squarely outside constitutional exception.
“The Senator’s own written admission that he is no longer a member of the Party effectively, reinforces the constitutional requirement for him to relinquish the mandate, secured on ADP’s platform in the 3rd February 2024 senatorial election,” he said.
The Party dismissed as legally untenable, attempts to rely on alleged internal disagreements as justification for retaining the Senate seat.
“Internal party administration issues, real or imagined, do not override the Constitution. They cannot be deployed as a shield against the clear consequences of political defection.
“The Plateau North Senate seat belongs to the Party and the electorate, not to any individual acting outside the platform on which the mandate was won.
“You cannot renounce party membership and still retain the benefits derived from that same party’s sponsorship. That position is unknown to law and democracy.”
The party further warned that the narrative of a so-called crisis is being deliberately promoted to distract attention from a clear constitutional breach, insisting that it remains a stable, nationally unified political organisation, governed by its constitution and democratic institutions, affirming its readiness to pursue all lawful and constitutional remedies available to it to protect its mandate and uphold democratic order.
“This is not a political dispute; it is a constitutional matter. ADP will not abdicate its responsibility to defend the rule of law and the sanctity of the electoral mandate,” the National Chairman added.
