The 25 vacant seats in the Rivers House of Assembly were officially reported to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, 27 legislators who were reportedly close supporters of the state’s most recent governor, Nyesom Wike, quit their party on Monday and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Next, the PDP asked Edison Ehie, the speaker of the Rivers assembly, to immediately declare the lawmakers’ seats null and void.
PDP Confirms 2 Of The Defected 27 Rivers Lawmakers Returned To The Party
The party asked that elections be held in the affected constituencies by the electoral body in a statement issued following the PDP NWC meeting on Wednesday.
The party’s demand was founded on section 109 (1) of the constitution, outlining the requirements for a legislator to be removed from their position in the parliament.
A statement released by the party’s NWC read, “That the Party communicates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by formally informing the Commission of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly as a result of the defection of the 25 now former members, who by virtue of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) vacated their seats by their action.
“That the Party officially demand that INEC should within the Constitutionally stipulated time, conduct fresh election in the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State where vacancies now exist in the Rivers State House of Assembly as a result of the defection of the 25 now former members.
UPDATE: 27 Rivers Lawmakers Loyal To Wike Defect From PDP To APC
“Direct the National Legal Adviser to commence appropriate legal action with respect to the declaration of the seats of the 25 defected former members vacant and the conduct of fresh election into the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State in accordance with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Every step necessary available in a democracy to ensure that the votes and mandate of the people of the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State are protected and not appropriated under any circumstance whatsoever.”
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