The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly recommended that its 27 state legislators who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State should vacate their seats and pursue fresh elections.
Malam Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, conveyed this demand during a press briefing in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the party’s National Working Committee to address political developments in Rivers.
He asserted that, according to Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the defected lawmakers had forfeited their seats. The only viable recourse for them, he explained, was to seek fresh nominations and run for re-election under the banner of the political parties they chose.
Damagum clarified, “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no division in the PDP at the national or state level for that matter to justify the defection of the PDP lawmakers. They vacated their seats for reasons best known to them and cannot return to the House of Assembly without passing through fresh elections in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act (2022).”
He pointed out that the Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Hon. Ehie Edison, had officially declared the seats of the defected members vacant in accordance with the Constitution. The Rivers House of Assembly, having fulfilled its duty on the matter, cannot readmit the former lawmakers without a fresh election.
Damagum emphasised, “For emphasis, the Electoral Act (2022) is clear in providing that no court has powers to stop INEC from conducting elections wherever and whenever a vacancy exists in any electoral constituency.”
He called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to schedule a date for the conduct of fresh elections in the constituencies of the defectors. Additionally, he urged PDP members in the state to remain united and steadfast in defending constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
Damagum acknowledged that several members worked against the PDP in the 2023 general election. The 27 lawmakers officially defected to the APC on December 11.
