17th May, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that it has not changed its position that members of the Rivers House of Assembly who were elected on the platform of the party, but defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have lost their seats.
The PDP also affirmed that it is not under pressure from any quarters to compromise its position on the issue in court as it has already clearly stated that the lawmakers are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly from December 11, 2023, when they publicly announced their defection to the APC.
PDP, in a press statement issued by Debo Olugunagba its National Publicity Secretary said the clarification was issued as rebuttal of a mischievous report in a section of the social media falsely claiming that there are plots to compromise the Party’s position and provide an unattainable lifeline to the defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“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”.
Olugunagba further said that “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.”