Rivers State By-Elections Loom as INEC Grapples with 27 Lawmaker Defections to APC.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has given a stern 14-day deadline to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize crucial bye-elections for the 27 now-vacant constituencies in the Rivers State House of Assembly. This demand comes on the heels of the mass defection of 27 lawmakers from the People’s Democracy Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During a press conference held on Tuesday, December 12, Daniel Okwa, the convener of the NDC, expressed deep concern about the potential consequences of these recent political events in Rivers State for the democratic fabric of the nation.
Okwa underscored that, as per the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the 27 members who defected have effectively relinquished their seats in the state assembly, necessitating the conduct of fresh elections.
Quoting directly from the Constitution, Okwa highlighted the pertinent section:
“A member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if – 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.”
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“The 27 controversial lawmakers must simply comply with the position of the law by vacating the Rivers State House of Assembly, having breached Section 109 (g) of the Constitution that brought them into office. Under the law, these lawmakers cease to be elected representatives of the people, and their offices must be declared vacant.”
The group issued a stern warning, emphasizing that failure by INEC to adhere to legal requirements could trigger citizen action against the electoral body.
“We urge President Bola Tinubu to come out in clear terms and condemn the criminality being attempted in the name of the political party he leads, the APC. The President should tell Wike and the former lawmakers in clear terms that he cannot be associated or seen to be encouraging this shenanigans.”
In the midst of this political turmoil, former PDP lawmaker Enemi Alabo shed light on the reasons behind the mass defection, citing internal divisions within the PDP and ongoing legal disputes related to the party’s secretaryship. Alabo invoked Section 109 of the constitution, asserting that it permits lawmakers to defect in the presence of a perceived party division.
