By Ken Chiwendu
The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Umar Damagun has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC requesting for the replacement of Martins Amaewhule and 26 others who detected to the All Progressives Congress APC last year.
In the letter dated November 13, and made available to newsmen by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the PDP Ag Chair urged INEC to conduct fresh elections in the 27 constituencies left vacant by the defected lawmakers.
Citing Section 109 (I) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that a lawmaker’s seat becomes vacant once he defects to another party without a valid reason.
According to Damagun, the lawmakers had no reason to defect as there was no division in the party that could have compelled their move and maintained that they cannot return to the House.
The move which is seen as a significant victory for Governor Siminilayi Fubara underscores the determination of the Wike group in the PDP NWC to take absolute control of the State House of Assembly.
