The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Umaru Damagun, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold by-elections to fill the 27 Rivers State MPs who defected from the PDP to all parties. requested. Progressive Congress (APC).
Mr Damagun’s request was formally expressed in a letter to INEC dated November 13, 2024.
The letter, titled “Demand for immediate holding of fresh elections in the 27 state assemblies of Rivers State vacated pursuant to Article 109(1)(g) of the Constitution,” was written by a spokesperson for opposition members. Published by Ikenga Ugochinyere. Federation, during a press conference, Sunday, Akokwa, Imo State.
In his letter, Damagun denounced the defection of 27 members from the Rivers State House of Assembly on December 11, 2023 as illegality.
He argued that pursuant to Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, the members ceased to be members of parliament because they had transferred to the APC.
The PDP chairman called on INEC to fulfill its constitutional obligations and initiate fresh elections to fill the vacancies created by the defections.
He stressed that there was no basis within the PDP for such a move and that the defection was in violation of constitutional provisions.
Mr Damagun’s letter also reminded INEC that the party had earlier nominated candidates for the 2023 Rivers State Assembly elections in which the PDP secured 32 seats.
However, he noted that just six months after taking office in June 2023, 27 of the MPs publicly switched their allegiance to the APC.
Part of the letter read: “The leadership of our great political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wishes to draw the attention of the Committee to the serious violation of Article 109(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” 11, 2023 by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly following their illegal defection from our party, the PDP, which sponsored the All Progressives Congress (APC) election on Monday, December 1999 (as amended).
“The Committee may recall that on July 7, 2022, through the e-candidate election nomination portal, our party, PDP, nominated all 32 State House candidates in Rivers State for the 2023 general elections. (See attached Acknowledgments).
“The Committee may also recall that, upon nomination, we held the Rivers Stairs parliamentary elections on March 18, 2023 and our party won 32 seats in the state assemblies. Members of Congress were sworn into office in June 2023.
“However, on Monday, December 11, 2023, just six months after taking office, 27 out of 32 members publicly announced their defection from our party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is a gross violation of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The two grounds for splitting and merging provided for in the Constitution that allow such defections do not exist at all in our political parties.Therefore, this means that there is no legal basis for the defections of the 27 members. These members have vacated their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly as per Article 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
“In view of the above, we hereby initiate the process for the Commission to fulfill its constitutional obligations and hold fresh elections to fill the vacancies created in 27 state constituencies due to the misconduct of members of Congress. I have attached a list of the 27 state legislators and their districts.
“I am grateful to the European Commission and have the utmost respect for its commitment to deepening democracy in our country.”
