BREAKING: INEC Officially Told to Conduct Fresh Election as 25 Pro-Wike Lawmakers Defect to APC

• The PDP's national working committee has resolved to write INEC to officially demand that fresh elections be conducted in Rivers state
• The fresh election, PDP said, will fill “25 vacancies created by the defection PDP members of the Rivers state assembly“
• This resolution was contained in a statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 6-year-experience covering politics in Nigeria

FCT, Abuja - The national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, said it thoroughly reviewed the state of the party in Rivers state.

Legit.ng learnt that the review was conducted during the PDP’s 580th meeting, and it focused on the defection of 25 members of the Rivers state house of assembly. Recall the state legislators exited the PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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In a statement signed by Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, obtained by Legit.ng, the party asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to void the election of the concerned lawmakers and conduct fresh polls.

The PDP’s resolution reads:

“That the party communicates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by formally informing the commission of the vacancies in the Rivers state house of assembly as a result of the defection of the 25 now former members, who by virtue of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) vacated their seats by their action.

“That the party officially demand that INEC should within the constitutionally stipulated time, conduct fresh election in the 25 state constituencies in Rivers state where vacancies now exist in the Rivers state house of assembly as a result of the defection of the 25 now former members.

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“Direct the national legal adviser to commence appropriate legal action with respect to the declaration of the seats of the 25 defected former members vacant and the conduct of fresh election into the 25 state constituencies in Rivers state in accordance with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“That the PDP will take every step necessary and available in a democracy to ensure that the votes and mandate of the people of the 25 state constituencies in Rivers state are protected and not appropriated under any circumstance whatsoever.”

Pro-Wike lawmaker makes U-turn after 48 hours

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Linda Somari Stewart, one of the 27 Rivers state house of assembly members who defected to the APC, made a U-turn.

Stewart, the lawmaker representing Okrika in the Rivers state assembly “made a u-turn as the seats of the defectors were about to be declared vacant”.

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27 pro-Wike lawmakers dump PDP

Legit.ng also reported that about 27 members of the Rivers state house of assembly, who are said to be loyal to Wike defected to the APC.

The lawmakers dumped the PDP for the APC on Monday, December 11, during the sitting of the house.

"27 Rivers' lawmakers' seats already vacant" - Lawyer

In another related news, Legit.ng reported that a lawyer, Kalu Kalu, has said the 27 lawmakers from Rivers state who recently left the PDP in Rivers state have lost their seats in parliament.

Kalu, in an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, December 12, noted that the law states that an elected official can only defect from his party to another during the course of his term if there is a leadership struggle within the party.

Source: Legit.ng