Damagum to INEC: Conduct bye-elections for 27 vacant Rivers Assembly seats

The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly organise bye-elections to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The vacancies arose after the lawmakers, aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated November 13, 2024, titled “Demand for Immediate Conduct of Fresh Elections in 27 State Constituencies of Rivers State Which Have Become Vacant Pursuant to Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution,” Damagum emphasised that the legislators’ defection contravened the constitutional provisions under Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). 

He said according to the constitution, such defections lead to automatic forfeiture of both party membership and legislative seats unless justified by a division within the party or a merger, conditions that did not exist in this instance.

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The letter, addressed to INEC, said: “The leadership of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wishes to draw the attention of the Commission to the gross violation of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution by 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, following their unlawful defection from the PDP to the APC on Monday, December 11, 2023.”

Damagum highlighted that the PDP had fielded candidates for all 32 State House of Assembly seats in Rivers during the 2023 general election and secured a clean sweep. However, six months after their inauguration in June 2023, 27 members defected to the APC.

He urged INEC to act in accordance with its constitutional mandate by initiating the process for fresh elections to fill the vacancies. The letter also included the names of the affected lawmakers and their constituencies.

Damagum commended INEC for its commitment to strengthening democracy in Nigeria and appealed for swift action to resolve the matter, ensuring adherence to constitutional principles.