The PDP National Working Committee convened an emergency meeting today to address recent political upheavals in Rivers State. In a press conference afterwards, Acting Chairman Umar Damagum slammed the door shut on prospects of 25 defecting state legislators returning to office outside new elections.
Citing Constitutional clauses, Damagum said the lawmakers voluntarily relinquished their seats by exiting the party that brought them to power without qualifying justifications. He asserted provisions that expressly outline the defection an automatic vacancy, barring specified conditions unmet here.
Per statutes, only the electorate can redeem the abandoned posts - not courts or party resolutions. "There exists no remedy outside the ballot box," Damagum proclaimed.
He called upon the election commission (INEC) to swiftly announce dates for voting in the newly vacated constituencies as legally required within 90 days.
The PDP Chief welcomed the defectors to test their fate before Rivers voters again if they are serious about roster restoration. He counseled them to ready fresh campaigns for winning back electorate support to regain assembly access.
Damagum’s uncompromising posture comes just after opposing reconciliation efforts by President Tinubu. It signals a PDP circling wagon to block what it sees as unconstitutional reinstatement of seats vacated voluntarily.
And here's the full detail of the statement:
Press Conference by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) @OfficialPDPNig at the end of its Emergency Meeting on the Political Developments in Rivers State.
No Remedy for 25 Former Rivers Assembly Members- PDP
…Counsels Them to Prepare for Fresh Election
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asserts that there is no remedy for the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who by virtue of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) vacated and lost their seats by reason of defection from the PDP, the Party platform upon which they were elected into the House of Assembly.
Our Party insists that having now vacated and lost their seats, the only option available for the former lawmakers, if they wish to return to the House of Assembly, is to seek fresh nomination and re-election on the platform of any political party of their choice in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.
The 25 former Rivers lawmakers freely and without any cause vacated their seats, being fully aware of the consequences of defection from the Party upon which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly without the conditions stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.
For the avoidance of doubt, there is no division in the PDP at the national or any other level for that matter to justify the defection of the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from the Party. They therefore vacated their seats for reasons best known to them and cannot return to the House of Assembly without passing through a fresh electoral process in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.
Moreover, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Rt. Hon (Barr) Ehie O. Edison DSSRS officially declared the seat of the defected now former members vacant in line with Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Rivers State House of Assembly, having become Functus Officio on the matter cannot re-admit the former lawmakers unless through the channel of a fresh election.
Our Party therefore counsels the former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly not to be deceived by anybody giving them the false hope and impracticable assurances in Abuja that they can return to the Rivers State House of Assembly without a fresh election or that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can be stopped from conducting fresh election into the 25 Rivers State Constituencies where vacancies have occurred by reason of their defection.
For emphasis Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022 is clear in providing that no Courts have powers to stop INEC from conducting elections wherever and whenever a vacancy occurs in any electoral constituency.
For clarity Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides that
“Nothing in this section shall empower the Courts to stop the holding of primaries or general election under this Act pending the determination of the suit.”
The PDP demands that INEC should, in line with Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022, fix a date for the conduct of fresh election into the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State where vacancies have occurred by reason of the defection of the now former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the determination of any suit in any court.
The national leadership of the PDP charges all members of our great Party in Rivers State to remain united and resolute in the defence of Constitutional democracy and Rule of Law in Rivers State.
Thank you for listening
Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum
Acting National Chairman
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