The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the 25 suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly of committing an unpardonable constitutional breach.
Politics Nigeria reports that the 25 legislators are loyal to FCT minister and PDP chieftain, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement on Thursday by the party’s spokesperson, Debo Ologunagbe, the PDP declared that it has not changed its stance on the Rivers assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the clarification is a rebuttal to a “mischievous report” that the party is considering changing its position.
Ologunagba said the report on social media “falsely” claimed that “there are plots to compromise the party’s position and provide an unattainable lifeline” to the former members of the Rivers state house of assembly who dumped the PDP.
“The Party also clarifies that it is not under pressure from any quarters to compromise its position in court, wherein it had already clearly stated that the former Rivers state lawmakers are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from December 11, 2023, when they publicly announced their defection from the PDP to the APC,” the statement reads.
“Our party therefore stands by its position that the affected members have since lost their seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly having arrogantly committed an unpardonable constitutional breach.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP in its Counter Claim by its National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade SAN in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 filed at the Federal High Court Abuja stated clearly that the former Rivers State lawmakers “are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from December 11, 2023 when they publicly announced their defection from the PDP to the APC.
“For emphasis the PDP in the said Suit seeks among others the following Declaration/Orders against the former Rivers State lawmakers.
“A Declaration that by provisions of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the seats of the plaintiffs have been vacant since 11th December 2023 when the plaintiffs announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“A Declaration that the plaintiffs are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly having defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 11th December 2023.
“An Order directing the first defendant (INEC) to conduct bye-elections in the respective constituencies of the plaintiffs in compliance with the provisions of the laws.
“An Order of perpetual injunction restraining the plaintiffs from parading themselves and/or further parading themselves or from performing or further performing the functions and duties of members of Rivers State House of Assembly…
“Happily, there are plethora of judicial decisions from the highest court in our country in support of the position taken by our Party.”
Politics Nigeria reports that in December 2023, 27 members of the Rivers house of assembly decamped from the PDP to the APC.
Sequel to this move, a state high court in Port Harcourt, the state capital, refrained the assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.
The court also granted an interim injunction restraining Martin Amaewhule from parading himself as a speaker of the house.
