The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begin the process for a new election to fill the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
This request comes after Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party declared that Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s defection automatically vacates her seat under Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The provision states:
“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 argued that Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s defection results in the loss of her seat, rights, privileges, and recognition as a member of the House of Representatives, based on Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution.
The party urged Hon. Ibori-Suenu to stop presenting herself as a representative to avoid “impersonation with likely criminal consequences.”
It also called on the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly to enforce her removal.
Additionally, the PDP stated that it has formally communicated to INEC to conduct a by-election within the constitutionally stipulated timeframe to fill the now-vacant seat in Delta State.
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The PDP directed its National Legal Adviser to initiate legal proceedings to protect the votes and mandate of the Ethiope East/Ethiope West constituents, which were originally granted to the PDP.
“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 party asserted.
