On Wednesday, the Rivers State House of Assembly has tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with conducting fresh elections to replace the vacant seats of the 27 members of the state House of Assembly who dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
The State Assembly made the order after it declared the seats of the 27 members vacant.
News About Nigeria had earlier reported that, due to the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly, 27 lawmakers from the PDP defected to the opposition APC on Monday.
It was gathered that the lawmakers who abandoned the PDP for the APC are loyalists of the former governor of the state and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
During seating today, the four-member Assembly, led by factional Speaker Edison Ehie, who is loyal to Governor Simnalayi Fubara, said the decision to declare the seats vacant was in line with Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
According to the Speaker, who read the names of the lawmakers affected, it is the responsibility of the INEC to conduct fresh elections within the time frame provided by the law.
In line with the declaration of the Rivers State Assembly, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had also issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections for the replacement of the defectees.
The NDC also cautioned INEC to adhere to legal requirements, stating that if they fail, citizens would take action against them.
