Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Umar Damagun has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by- elections to fill vacant seats of pro-Wike House of Assembly legislators in Rivers State who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Damagun’s request was contained in his letter addressed to the commission, which certified true copy, dated November 13, 2024, was made public by House of Representatives member from Imo State, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere/
Rep. Ugochinyere released Damagun’s letter to the electoral umpire at a press conference in Akokwa, Imo state on Sunday.
In the letter titled: “Demand for immediate conduct of fresh election in 27 state constituencies of Rivers State which have become vacant pursuant to Section 109 (1)(g) of the constitution,” the acting PDP national chairman recalled the unlawful defection of the 27 former lawmakers in December 11, 2023, noting that in line with the constitution, they are no longer members of the assembly.
He therefore urged the commission to perform its constitutional duties and begin the process of conducting a fresh election to fill the vacancies created in the 27 state constituencies by the unlawful act of the former Rivers State House of Assembly members.
The letter read in part: “The leadership of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to draw the attention of the commission to the gross violation of Section 109 (1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly following their unlawful defection from our party, the PDP who sponsored their elections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, December 11, 2023.
“The commission may recall that our party, the PDP nominated all our 32 State House of Assembly candidates in Rivers State for the 2023 general elections on the 7th of July 2022, via your electronic candidate election nomination portal (see attached acknowledgement).
“The commission may also recall that following the nomination, the commission conducted election into the Rivers Stare House of Assembly on the 18th of March, 2023 and our party won 32 seats in the state assembly. The elected state House of Assembly members were inaugurated and sworn-in on June, 2023.
“However, on Monday, 11 December, 2023, a period of just six (6) months after inauguration, 27 out of the 32 members publicly announced their defection from our party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This defection is a gross violation of Section 109 (1)(g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The only two grounds of division and merger provided for in the constitution that permit such defection is completely non-existent in our political party. It therefore means that the defections of the 27 members are without lawful excuse and these members have vacated their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly by the operations of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby demand that the commission performs its constitutional duties and begin the process of conducting a fresh election to fill the vacancies created in the 27 state constituencies by the unlawful act of the assembly members. Find attached the list of the 27 state assembly members and their constituencies.
“While thanking the commission for its commitment to deepening democracy in our country, please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
