The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asserted its dominance over Rivers State, proclaiming Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the party’s complete control over the state’s political landscape.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Saturday, the party declared that all legislators who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have forfeited their seats, citing constitutional provisions.
The assertion by the PDP comes in response to recent developments in Rivers State, where the APC’s Caretaker Committee called for the state House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara.
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Ologunagba emphasized that legal considerations overwhelmingly favor the PDP, dismissing the APC’s claims as futile attempts to subvert Nigeria’s constitution.
He cited Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which mandates the vacation of seats by lawmakers who defect to another political party.
According to Ologunagba, all House of Assembly members who joined the APC are now former members, and he urged both the APC and the legislators to abandon any hopes of their party assuming control of Rivers State.
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He stated, “The former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, for reasons best known to them, wittingly vacated and summarily lost their seats as nothing in the provison protects or allows them to retain their membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly after decamping from the political party upon which they were elected.”
The PDP cautioned the APC to refrain from attempting to take over Rivers State forcefully and urged them to accept the realities of the situation.
Ologunagba emphasized that the quorum of the Rivers State House of Assembly will be determined by the remaining lawmakers until bye-elections are conducted to fill the vacancies created by the defection of former members.
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Amidst the political turmoil in Rivers State, the APC accused Governor Fubara of “egregious actions,” suggesting talks of his impeachment process.
However, the PDP remains steadfast in its stance, urging the APC to respect constitutional provisions and refrain from destabilizing the political landscape of the state.