A member of the House of Representatives representing the Mnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, has disclosed that the massive defections hitting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were due to the refusal of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to step aside and allow only Southern aspirants to contest the party’s presidential primary.

Disclosing this on Channels TV on Tuesday, Mr Uzokwe alleged that he and some stakeholders approached Mr Atiku to allow former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; former Rivers State governor and minister, Rotimi Amaechi; and any other aspirant from the South to contest for the ticket.

According to the lawmaker, Mr Atiku, however, rejected the plea, insisting that he formed the ADC in his house; hence, no one can tell him not to contest the party’s presidential primary.

Mr Uzokwe said, “We left ADC because His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar said that the coalition was formed in his house, that the ADC is his party, that nobody will tell him anything. We went to him and said, ‘Can you step down and let Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi, or any other person from rh South, should come to the the field and do primaries?’”

Describing the “irresponsible” allegation by the lawmaker as his own way of justifying his defection from the ADC, Mr Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, told Peoples Gazette on Wednesday that he is not aware of such a decision and asked him to provide proof for his claim.

Mr Ibe said, “The constitution guarantees freedom of association, people are at liberty, in their own volition, to join any group they so desire, they are also at liberty to leave, especially when they were no coerced, that is allowed.

“What shouldn’t be allowed, is irresponsibly manufacturing a justification for the position you have taken. He is just justification shopping. I do not recall Atiku ever saying anything about the coalition being formed in his house.

“He’s the one who was at whatever meeting, we were not privy to that meeting. Let him provide evidence to what it is Atiku said. I don’t think Atiku could’ve said that, he’s to experienced to want to say something like that. I think it is irresponsible for this gentleman to manufacture his justification by maligning other persons.”

Mr Ibe, therefore, advised against committing actions the opposition and critics have been accusing President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress administration of doing, which is to ensure that everyone is headed into a one-party state.

Mr Uzokwe was among the 17 Reps members announced on Monday by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to have defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, days after Mr Obi and former governor and minister, Rabiu Kwankwaso, did the same.