The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagun, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections to fill 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly. These seats were vacated by lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Damagun made this demand in a letter dated November 13, 2024, addressed to INEC. He highlighted that the lawmakers’ defection on December 11, 2023, violated Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits such actions unless specific constitutional conditions are met.
The letter, titled “Demand for Immediate Conduct of Fresh Election in 27 State Constituencies of Rivers State Which Have Become Vacant Pursuant to Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution,” emphasized the need for INEC to act swiftly to uphold legislative integrity in the state.
During a press conference in Akokwa, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, spokesperson for the Opposition Lawmakers Coalition, shared the details of the letter. It outlined the PDP’s position that the defections lacked any lawful grounds such as party division or merger, which are the only constitutionally recognized justifications for such actions.
Damagun stressed that the defecting lawmakers, who were elected under the PDP platform in the 2023 General Elections, automatically vacated their seats upon switching allegiance.
“In light of this constitutional breach, we urge INEC to fulfill its obligation by organizing fresh elections to fill these vacancies,” the letter stated, further providing a list of the affected lawmakers and their constituencies.
The PDP chairman reiterated the party’s commitment to deepening democracy and ensuring that the principles of constitutional law are upheld, urging INEC to act promptly. "This is a critical moment to reinforce the integrity of our electoral process," he concluded.
