Port Harcourt, Rivers state – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it would write the Independent National Election (INEC) to demand fresh elections in Rivers state.

The fresh election will be to replace its 27 members in the state house of assembly who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, December 11.

PDP sends warning message to pro-Wike defectors

Reacting to the defection of the lawmakers, the PDP warned them against presenting themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, cautioning that such actions could lead to charges of impersonation with serious legal consequences.

Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesperson, in an interview with The Punch, disclosed that the party would explore all options to reclaim its seats in the state house of assembly.

Ologunagba, who described the PDP as a law-abiding party, said:

“We will write to INEC on Tuesday, December 12 to make our position known.”

When asked what the party would do if INEC failed to grant its request, the PDP publicity secretary replied:

“You cannot pre-empt our steps and our party. We know the law and we understand it.

“We will take a state at a time. What I can assure you is that the PDP will explore all options.”

“27 Rivers’ lawmakers’ seats already vacant” – Lawyer

Earlier, Lagos Reporters reported that a lawyer, Kalu Kalu said the 27 lawmakers from Rivers state who recently left the PDP in Rivers state have lost their seats in parliament.

Kalu, in an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, December 12, noted that the law states that an elected official can only defect from his party to another during his term if there is a leadership struggle within the party.

27 Pro-Wike Lawmakers Dump PDP for APC

Lagos Reporters also reported that about 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who are said to be loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, defected to the APC.

The lawmakers dumped the PDP for the APC on Monday, December 11, during the sitting of the house.