Kingsley Moghalu, a former presidential candidate, has demanded an apology from Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) over the latter’s comments on defection.

Mr Falana, a Human Rights activist, had at a public gathering on Monday, claimed the Young Progressive Party (YPP) candidate in the last general election has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The activist also said the ruling party has assigned a portfolio to Moghalu.

But dismissing the claim as untrue, the former presidential candidate who dumped his party said he is not a member of any political party at the moment and has not been handed any portfolio.

“These statements are false. I am not a member of the APC. I have not been given any appointment by the APC government. This effort to malign my character and reputation, by an individual I have always respected, was a complete shock to me,” a statement he signed partly read.

“It is surprising that a man of Mr. Falana’s standing, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria no less, could make such weighty statements without verification.

“I demand and expect an apology and a public retraction of this falsehood from Mr. Falana,” Moghalu said while disparaging media houses that aired the claim of the lawyer.

Why I dumped YPP

He explained that after the elections he has moved into advocacy for electoral/political reforms and voter education in Nigeria and this is responsible for his decision to dump the YPP.

“I contested in the 2019 presidential election as the flag bearer of the the Young Progressives Party (YPP). Since the elections I have convened To Build a Nation (TBAN), a non-partisan citizens’ movement focused on advocacy for electoral/political reforms and voter education in Nigeria.

“In order to strengthen the integrity of the movement’s non-partisan stance, I recently announced my resignation from the YPP. I am NOT a member of any political party,” he explained.