National PDP Chairman Calls for Bye-Election in Rivers State to Fill Vacated Seats
The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize a by-election in 27 state constituencies in Rivers State, following the defection of 27 state lawmakers from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a letter dated November 13, 2024, Damagun condemned the defection, which he described as an illegal act. He argued that under Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, the lawmakers’ switch to the APC rendered them no longer members of the state assembly.
According to the letter, the PDP Chairman urged INEC to conduct fresh elections to fill the vacancies caused by the defections, emphasizing that the action was in line with the provisions of the Constitution.
He also reminded INEC of the party’s earlier nomination of candidates for the 2023 Rivers State House of Assembly elections, where the PDP secured 32 seats. However, Damagun noted that just six months after their inauguration in June 2023, 27 lawmakers publicly switched allegiance to the APC, citing the party’s earlier nomination, the 2023 election results, and the Constitution’s provision on the grounds for division and merger.
Damagun’s letter further stated that the only two grounds for division and merger provided for in the Constitution were not present in the PDP, and therefore, the lawmakers’ decision to defect was without lawful excuse, making them vacate their seats in the state assembly.
In conclusion, the PDP Chairman emphasized the need for INEC to implement its constitutional duties and initiate the process of conducting a fresh election to fill the 27 state assembly seats.
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(‘Ikenga Ugochinyere and his team also attended the press conference in Akokwa, Imo State, to make the letter public and provided the list of the 27 state assembly members and their relevant constituencies
