The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that there is no shortcut for the 25 former lawmakers who lost their seats after defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This comes despite a recent directive from President Bola Tinubu seeking their reinstatement.
In a statement issued after an emergency meeting, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) declared that the former lawmakers can only return to the Rivers State House of Assembly through fresh elections.
Recall that Tinubu on Monday directed Governor Fubara to recognise Martin Amaewhule as Speaker and pay the salaries of the defected lawmakers.
However, the PDP said such a move isn’t legal.
“The only option available for the former lawmakers is to seek fresh nomination and re-election on the platform of any political party of their choice,” the statement said. “They freely vacated their seats, being fully aware of the consequences of defection without justification.”
The PDP further clarified that the Rivers State House of Assembly, having declared the seats vacant, cannot re-admit the former members without a fresh election. They also dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can be prevented from conducting elections in the affected constituencies.
“Section 84 (15) of the Electoral Act, 2022 is clear,” the statement noted. “No court has the power to stop INEC from conducting elections wherever a vacancy occurs.”
The PDP, therefore, urged INEC to proceed with fixing a date for fresh elections in the 25 constituencies, while assuring their party members to remain united and resolute in upholding the rule of law.
The development is the latest chapter in the ongoing political saga in Rivers State, fueled by the power struggle between Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The defection of 27 lawmakers, allegedly loyal to Wike, and the counter-declaration of their seats as vacant by Fubara’s camp had plunged the state assembly into turmoil.
PDP should be firm and together
These are the most absurd resolutions and directives l have ever seen or heard in my life. The law is very clear on defection. A budget the has presented by an executive governor before a legally constituted house of assembly, should be re-presented before illegitimate law makers is totally unacceptable.
Honestly, my brother. If it’s a country where system works, nobody will even wait for court order before inec start preparing for fresh selection
PDP cannot win anything, anywhere now in Nigerian politics… Tinubu has already settled the matter amicably. Peaceful Nigeria existing…
Mr . President should tread with caution
Ignorance unlimited! Who declared their seats vacant? 4 or 5 members? What does the constitution say in respect of forming quorum? PDP and their blind supports don’t understand the constitution except strong headedness. Whatever the PDP 4 members did in the absence of the majority members can stand before the law. It’s an exercise in futility!
That’s the spirit of PDP. Keep it up my people. No room for neglect of the Rule of Law.
Yes I welcome this idea Rivers is for PDP all the lawmakers that resign in respect of Wike no seat for them let them go they are all sabotous.
Wow Rivers is for PDP interesting
Listen to yourself
Where is the Democracy then
These people are just fooling us with party they are all the same
The resolutions are a serious booby trap for the Governor. He should renege on them. He isn’t the president cabinet minister to dance to his tune. He is an elected Executive Governor?
INEC should fixe a new date for the vacant sit. PDP all the way
Mr president or what should stop dabbling into Rivers state affairs for it’s too early. Sir Sim Fugbara can handle the load, it’s not too heavy for him.
This a total show of political recklessness on the part of Mr. President and Wike. The defected legislators should vacant their seat. The constitution remains sacrosanct on this.
Would Tinubu or woke as governors have accepted such a stranglating resolutions
If Fubara agrees to Tinubu’s resolutions and recalls them, he has lost the state like a coward. He will loose all respect.
It’s a struggle for power,and a fight between what’s called god father and god son.
The incumbent governor must be respected and at the same time Hon Abuja minister should respect himself by doing what’s constitutionally right.
He should remember that,he had enjoyed his tenure with out being meddled by his predecessors.The mandate of the good people of Rivers must be respected and protected.
What goes around comes around…
What baffles me is that Mr president has not accepted political solution to stop killings in SE by releasing Nnamdi Kalu and now he even decided against court.
Smiles….. Wike was powerful because he was a sitting Governor then.,…. Power is transient and it’s Sim Fubura’s tenure, wike should sit down and allow Fubara to deliver devidence of democracy to his people…….. I always say and will continue to say wike is not in anyway bigger than my party. He became popular because of the resources in his disposal then as a governor……. Fubara should priotise Rivers state people and neglect wike and his paymaster, cos they always want to play politics even with people lives
Wike should not think that he is not seeing people in Rivers State, he is forgetting so soon when he asked if vote can be transferred, if it was easy they should try it and see so what is happening now. I quote him wike and he said that any day he will leave PDP that he will never have peace he forgot that there’s power in the tongue. Let me advise Governor SIM Fugbara to understand what power is, that was the same way wike got his own power.
The governor should be very careful with this people, if you are not careful they’re playing tricks. Why must you return all the commissioners that resign willingly with out apologies.
My advice with FUBARA is, if you want to be Hot please,be Hot. Nether to be cool,
Somebody could not even pretend to b loyal for 6 months sef. Flexing muscles at such early stage. Am sure he has been boxed into a corner hence he signed and agreed to those resolutions. Better for him because wen push comes to shove, all those urging him to fight to finish will run away and he would suffer d consequence alone
The resolutions are a serious booby trap for the Governor. He should renege on them. He isn’t the president cabinet minister to dance to his tune. He is an elected Executive Governor
Hmmmmm Am ashame of Wike bt am not surprise for Nigeria parade the most shameless breed of politicians,Wike who came to limelight as a junior minister thanks to GEJ and Mrs GEJ…today he still want relevance after stepping down..Man is indeed greedy…
On this one, I sincerely agree with PDP, they cannot be reinstated, they should be an election, Wike cannot be controlling the affairs of the state even as an Ex-governor.
Wike should pipelow in this matter, and allow the sitting governor do his job as expected.
And for Mr. President, let him at point, step aside and, allow the rules of law to take its Course….. it’s a lesson to others.
Wike should pipelow in this matter, and allow the sitting governor do his job as expected.
And for Mr. President, let him at this point, step aside and, allow the rules of law to take its Course….. it’s a lesson to others.
PDP should be firm and resolute on its position regarding the defected members of the Rivers House of Assembly. The governor is not obliged and should not honour such agreement. It is illegal. Mr Governor don’t be a coward. Maintain your ground.