Defection: PDP notifies INEC of 25 vacant seats in Rivers Assembly
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the 25 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This comes after 27 lawmakers, said to be loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with two of them returning to the PDP.
In response, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) issued a statement requesting INEC to declare the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant and conduct fresh elections in the affected constituencies within the stipulated time frame.
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The party cited section 109(1) of the Nigerian Constitution as the basis for its demand, and emphasised the importance of safeguarding the votes and mandates of the people in the affected constituencies.
The PDP’s move aims to protect the democratic process and ensure that the representation of the people in the Rivers State House of Assembly remains intact.
Neptune Prime reports that on Wednesday, 14th December 2023, the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Barrister Ehie Edison, while leading proceedings of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, declared vacant the seats of the lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier on Tuesday, a High Court in the State declared Edison Ehie, as the authentic Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Justice M.W. Danagogo in an exparte motion brought by Ehie, had restrained Martins Amaewhule from parading himself as the Speaker.