The Peoples Democratic Party has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to begin the procedure for conducting a new election to fill the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
On Thursday, four members of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers are Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Mathew (Kaduna), Bassey Akiba (Cross River), and Iyawe Esosa (Edo).
Additionally, Erthiatake Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, also ended her membership with the PDP and joined the APC.
In response, the PDP, through a statement from its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday, stated that according to constitutional provisions and the clear interpretation by the Supreme Court, Ibori-Suenu has permanently forfeited her seat, rights, privileges, and recognition.
“The Peoples Democratic Party demands that the Independent National Electoral Commission immediately commence processes to conduct a fresh election to fill the Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives which automatically became vacant by reason of the defection of Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu to the All Progressives Congress,”Ologunagba stated.
“It is settled in law that by her defection from the PDP, the political Party platform upon which she was elected into the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibori-Suenu willfully vacated the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency seat thus rendering it vacant by virtue of the self-executory provision of Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” he added.
Ologunagba further stated that Ibori-Suenu should cease presenting herself as a member of the House of Representatives, warning that continuing to do so would be considered impersonation with potential legal consequences.
The PDP also urged the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms to recognise that Ibori-Suenu is no longer a member of the House of Representatives.
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