(SINL NIGERIA) The Senator representing Edo South senatorial district, Senator Neda Imasuen has said the gale of defection in the political landscape will not lead to a one party state.
Specifically, the lawmaker stressed that defection is not a crime, saying our constitution recognizes the freedom of movement and association.
Senator Imasuen, who is the chairman, Senate committee on Ethics, Privileges of Public petition made this known while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, no political party has the right to deny membership of its party, adding that anyone who gravitates towards any political party is free to do so.
“Defection is not a crime, and our constitution still recognizes the freedom of movement and association and no political party has the right to deny membership of its party, and so anyone who gravitates towards any political party is free to do so.
“I don’t even believe that the movement as we see today, will lead to what they call a one party state”.
Historically, Imasuen stated “there was a time that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ran this country, where almost all the governors were PDP. It wasn’t seen as a one party state at the time.
“It is seen as such now because people are moving to a particular party. No, it is not. Don’t also forget, as a party in government, and what do you expect of a party in government, I mean, it is more stable. And so when there is instability in those other parties, as you can witness today, PDP is going through its own problems. Labour is even worse for it”.
He added “So I don’t see it as a drift to one party nation or state. It is not going to happen”.
On the proposed security summit by the Senate, Senator Imasuen expressed optimism that the outcome will be successful.
He said previous summits in eight and nine Senate failed to achieve set objectives because
the outcome were submitted to the executive, and the executive did nothing about it, “and so it remained on the shelf”.
“I don’t believe that the government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do the same thing, because he is serious about security”.
Additionally, the lawmaker stated that the healthy relationship between the parliament and the executive, should not be interpreted as rubber stamping.
