The National Democratic Congress has said that the 27 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party, who defected to the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, have vacated their seats.
Stating this while addressing newsmen on Tuesday, the convener of the NDC, Daniel Okwa, expressed concern over the recent political developments in Rivers State, describing the situation as detrimental to democracy.
Okwa noted that, following the provision of the Nigerian Constitution, the 27 lawmakers have forfeited their seats in the state assembly due to their defection, necessitating fresh elections.
He however issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission, to conduct bye-elections for the 27 “vacant” constituencies in the State House of Assembly.
Premium Politics reported that the 27 lawmakers defected from the PDP to APC on Monday, citing an alleged crisis in their former party as the cause of their defection.
Reacting to the development, The pro-democracy group said: “A member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat if, being a person whose election 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.” Okwa stated, quoting Section 109 (g) of the Constitution.
It added, “The 27 controversial lawmakers must simply comply with the position of the law by vacating the Rivers State House of Assembly, having breached the Constitution. Under the law, these lawmakers cease to be elected representatives of the people, and their offices must be declared vacant.”
Expressing disappointment that the lawmakers were allegedly misinformed and misled to defect to an opposition, party without realizing the legal implications, warned those who may also be trying to replicate similar scenarios in other states.
The NDC however expressed the need by the INEC to conduct bye-elections promptly and cautioned that failure to comply with the law would result in citizens taking action against the electoral body.