PDP Stands Firm: 26 Rivers Lawmakers’ Seats to Stay Vacant Following Defection
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, insisted that the 26 Rivers House of Assembly lawmakers who dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress, APC, were no longer members of the state legislature.
The PDP National Legal Adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), said this to newsmen shortly after Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, adjourned the embattled Rivers lawmakers’ suit until January 24, 2024.
Ajibade said though President Bola Tinubu might have intervened in the dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the party stood on what the constitution says about defection.
He added that PDP as a party; we are standing on the side of the constitution of the country. It is not about issues of an agreement but by the Constitution, we all sworn to uphold.
However, as a political party, we cannot leave the seats and the votes willingly given to the party by people of Rivers State.
According to the senior lawyer, aside from that, the constitution of the country is very clear; Section 109 (1g) is clear as to issues of defection.
Also speaking, Mr Steve Adehi, SAN, lawyer to the 26 lawmakers (plaintiffs), said though they were in court with the hope of taking their interlocutory injunction, an issue regarding a change of counsel occurred.
He said the matter was adjourned to enable parties to put their house in order.
He said the court, however, made an order extending the lifespan of the interim order pending the hearing of the motion on notice scheduled to come up on January 24.
When asked why the suit was not withdrawn by his clients based on the resolution entered into by Fubara and Wike, Adehi said: “We have just informed the court today that the counsel (Mr. Lukman Fagbemi, SAN) that withdrew said he had instruction to withdraw from the matter because it is being settled.
The other counsel, who came in today, requested for an adjournment to confirm that position with their client.
