Defection: Rivers Speaker Declares Seat Of 27 Lawmakers Vacant

Speaker Edison Ehie of Rivers State House Of Assembly has delacred vacant the seats of 27 lawmakers for defecting to the All Progressives Congress.

Earlier this week, 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of the state, left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

During plenary on Wednesday at the government house complex, with only lawmakers loyal to the governor in attendance, Ehie declared the seats of the defectors vacant.

The PDP had asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seats vacant.

The National Democratic Coalition (NDC), a non-partisan political group, had also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections to fill the seats of the affected lawmakers.

Daniel Okwa, the group’s convener, said the legislators were ill-advised because their actions contravened the provisions of the constitution. 

“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,” the group said.

Under the law, these lawmakers cease to be elected representatives of the people and their offices must be declared vacant.

“We find it most unfortunate that the 27 former Rivers state house of assembly members were misinformed and misled into defecting from the PDP to the APC without realizing that their action effectively means they have vacated their seats as elected lawmakers. It is an action that they have themselves to blame for.”

The state government commenced the demilition of the assembly complex on Wednesday.