JUST-IN: PDP Declares Ibori’s Daughter’s Seat Vacant Over Defection to APC

PDP Demands Fresh Election for Ethiope East/West Constituency After Ibori-Suenu’s Defection.....Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate the process for a by-election to fill the seat of the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives following the defection of Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party asserted that Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s defection has automatically rendered her seat vacant, citing Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which stipulates that a member of the House of Representatives who defects from the party under which they were elected must vacate their seat.

Legal Basis for Vacancy

The provision in the Constitution reads:
“A member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat… if, being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected.”

The PDP emphasized that the defection resulted in the loss of her seat, rights, privileges, and recognition as a member of the House, citing Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution.

Calls for Immediate Action

The party urged Hon. Ibori-Suenu to stop presenting herself as a representative, warning of potential impersonation and criminal consequences. It also called on the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly to enforce her removal.

Additionally, the PDP announced that it has formally communicated with INEC to conduct a by-election within the constitutionally mandated timeframe to fill the now-vacant seat in Delta State.

Legal Action

The PDP stated it would also take legal action to protect the votes and mandate of the Ethiope East/Ethiope West constituents, asserting that the mandate originally granted to the PDP cannot be appropriated by any individual or political party.

“The votes and mandate of the people of Ethiope East/Ethiope West cannot be appropriated by any person or political party under any guise,” the PDP concluded.