Rivers: PDP moves in for Fubara, calls for immediate election to replace defected lawmakers  

In response to the defection of 27 state assembly members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has acted swiftly to safeguard Rivers State Governor, Simi Fubara, from impeachment.

The party has been forced to come out of its shell as it remained neutral since the infighting between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, began.

To shield the governor from potential political embarrassment, the PDP has requested that the 27 lawmakers who are said to be loyal to the FCT Minister, be replaced.

As a result, it demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) promptly begin the process of holding new elections in the impacted areas.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Debo Ologunagba on Monday said, “The PDP asserts that by defecting from the PDP, the political Party platform on which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, the seats of the respective 27 former lawmakers have become vacant by virtue of the provision of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

Referring to the constitution, the statement said, “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 109 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political Party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected…”

The party stressed that, “By reason 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 therefore demands 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.

“In view of the vacancy now existing in the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State, the PDP demands that INEC should within the stipulated period under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) conduct fresh election to fill the vacancies.

“Our Party cautions 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.

“The PDP commends the people of Rivers State for their steadfastness and loyalty to Democracy and Rule of Law especially at this time.”