PDP Request Re-Election to Replace 27 Defected Lawmakers in Rivers State
PDP Request Re-Election to Replace 27 Defected Lawmakers in Rivers State
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize fresh elections to replace the 27 lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday. This information was conveyed in a press statement signed by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
The defection of the lawmakers to the APC was reportedly attributed to divisions within the PDP, with the affected lawmakers known to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Ologunagba, in the press statement, asserted that the seats of the defected lawmakers have become vacant as a result of their initial election on the PDP’s platform. Referring to the party’s constitution, he cited Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), stating, “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political Party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected.”
Due to this constitutional provision and its interpretation by the Supreme Court, the PDP insists that the 27 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have lost their seats, rights, privileges, recognition, and obligations.
The PDP demands that the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly adheres to the constitutional provision by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant. Additionally, the party implores INEC to conduct fresh elections within the stipulated period to fill the resulting vacancies. The PDP cautioned the defected lawmakers against presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as it could lead to serious criminal consequences.
The party urged the people of the state to remain steadfast and loyal to democracy and the rule of law during this period.
