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The Rivers State House of Assembly has declared the seats of 27 members who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as vacant. The lawmakers, aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, abandoned the PDP amid ongoing political maneuvers linked to an impeachment process against the state governor, Sim Fubara.
The declaration of vacant seats took place during a sitting led by the four-member Assembly, headed by factional Speaker Edison Ehie, who is aligned with the state governor. The decision, made on Wednesday, was in accordance with Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
Notably, the lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant were not present during the announcement. The Speaker, reading out the names of the affected legislators, called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize fresh elections within the stipulated time frame as per the law.
In making the declaration, the factional Speaker affirmed, “Distinguished colleagues, the House will duly inform the Independent National Electoral Commission of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and indeed, conduct a fresh election to fill the above vacancies.” The move signals a consequential turn in the state's political landscape, with implications for the balance of power and representation in the Assembly.
Rivers State House of Assembly Declares Seats Vacant for 27 Defecting Members
Rivers State House of Assembly Declares Seats Vacant for 27 Defecting Members
Rivers State House of Assembly Declares Seats Vacant for 27 Defecting Members
