The Peoples’ Democratic Party has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct new elections in the 27 state constituencies of Rivers State.
This is against the backdrop of the decamping of 27 PDP Rivers State Assembly members to join the All Progressives Congress.
The PDP said in a statement signed by its national spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba that: “According to Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the seats of the 27 lawmakers have automatically become vacant as a result of their departure from the PDP, the political party under whose platform they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
“ 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 PDP emphasises that the Supreme Court’s clear interpretation supports the view that the defected members have forfeited their seats, rights, privileges, recognition, and obligations”.
The PDP added that: ”Given the now-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), organize fresh elections to fill the voids.”
The party warned the 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.
