PDP Urges INEC to conduct Fresh Elections in Rivers State as 27 Lawmakers Defect to APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in all 27 state constituencies of Rivers State.

This call comes in the aftermath of the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State Assembly from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement released on Monday, the PDP pointed to Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), asserting that the seats of the 27 lawmakers have automatically become vacant due to their departure from the PDP—the political party under whose platform they were initially elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Quoting Section 109(1) of the Constitution, PDP’s national spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, emphasized that “a member shall vacate their seat if they become a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which the House was elected.”

The party contends that the Supreme Court’s interpretation supports the view that the defected members have forfeited their seats, rights, privileges, recognition, and obligations.

In light of these constitutional provisions, the PDP has called on the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly to adhere promptly to the Constitution by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant.

With the existing vacancies in the 27 State Constituencies of Rivers State, the PDP requests that INEC, within the stipulated period outlined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), organizes fresh elections to fill these voids.

Furthermore, the PDP has warned the defected lawmakers against presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, cautioning that such actions could lead to charges of impersonation with serious legal consequences.