PDP Asks INEC to Conduct Fresh Poll to Replace 27 Rivers PDP State Lawmakers Who Defected To APC

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national working committee has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct a fresh poll in the 27 constituencies of the PDP members in the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Dele Ologunagba told INEC that the fresh poll should be conducted because the defected 27 lawmakers had vacated their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The PDP spokesman told the 27 lawmakers to henceforth stop parading themselves as members of the house, or they could be charged with impersonation with criminal consequences.

The defection of 27 lawmakers who are pro-wike, out of 31 members, automatically gave the APC absolute control of the assembly which is fighting a political battle with Governor Seminalaye Fubara.

The defecting lawmakers alleged that the governor was withholding the budgetary allocation of the house.

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The speaker, Matthew Amawule, accused the governor of lavishing the state fund.

Because of the above Constitutional provision and its clear interpretation by the Supreme Court, the 27 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have vacated and lost their seats, rights, privileges, recognition, and obligations accruable to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The PDP also demanded that the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly immediately comply with the provision of the Constitution by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant, adding that the former lawmakers should stop parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as such would amount to impersonation with serious criminal consequences.