Following the defection of 27 lawmakers, said to be loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday (with two later returning to the PDP), the PDP requested Edison Ehie, the speaker of the Rivers assembly, to declare the lawmakers’ seats vacant immediately a day after the defection.

In a statement from the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP urged INEC to conduct elections in the affected constituencies, citing section 109 (1) of the constitution, which outlines the grounds for a lawmaker to lose their seat.

The statement detailed the resolutions reached after a Wednesday meeting, including formal communication to INEC about the vacancies and the official demand for the commission to conduct fresh elections in the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State where vacancies now exist.

“That the Party communicates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by formally informing the Commission of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly as a result of the defection of the 25 now former members, who by virtue of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) vacated their seats by their action,” the statement reads.

“That the Party officially demand that INEC should within the Constitutionally stipulated time, conduct fresh election in the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State where vacancies now exist in the Rivers State House of Assembly as a result of the defection of the 25 now former members.

“Direct the National Legal Adviser to commence appropriate legal action with respect to the declaration of the seats of the 25 defected former members vacant and the conduct of fresh election into the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State in accordance with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

According to the PDP, “every step necessary available in a democracy to ensure that the votes and mandate of the people of the 25 State Constituencies in Rivers State are protected and not appropriated under any circumstance whatsoever”.