Rivers: PDP calls for immediate election to replace sacked pro-Wike lawmakers
On Monday, November 25, Umar Damagun, the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sent a formal request to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election to replace 27 pro-Wike lawmakers from Rivers State, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The request, dated November 13, 2024, was made public by Ikenga Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, at a press conference held in Akokwa, Imo State.
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”, refers to the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the PDP to the APC on December 11, 2023. Damagun claims this action violated the Constitution, as such defections are not permitted under Section 109(1)(g), which stipulates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they leave the party that sponsored their election, unless the defection is due to a merger or division within the party.
In the letter, Damagun stressed that the defected lawmakers no longer held valid seats in the Assembly and called on INEC to immediately begin the process of holding fresh elections for the affected constituencies. He also attached a list of the 27 lawmakers and their respective constituencies.
“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,” Damagun wrote. “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.”
This development is part of an ongoing political struggle in Rivers State, where tensions have been rising due to defections and disputes between political factions. The PDP has called on INEC to uphold constitutional duties and ensure that the vacant seats are filled through legitimate elections.
