The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct new elections in the 27 State Constituencies of Rivers State.
The party which stated this in a statement on Monday in the wake of the defection of 27 Rivers State Assembly members from the PDP to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) called on INEC to declare their seats vacant.
The PDP called on the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly to promptly adhere to the constitution by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant.
The PDP warned the lawmakers against presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, cautioning that such actions could lead to charges of impersonation with serious legal consequences.
In a related development, The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has reacted to the Monday defection of 27 members of the State House of Assembly who dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.
Chief Okocha said the legislators left the PDP due to a lack of governance in the state.
The 27 lawmakers were led in their move by Factional Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule.
The lawmakers in their letters said their decision to leave the PDP followed an unresolved leadership crisis at the National level.
With the defection, the APC has become the majority in the State House of Assembly, leaving the PDP with only four members.
Meanwhile, the Chairman has hinted that the party will organise a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday in Port Harcourt, to formally receive the 27 state lawmakers.
