By Seyi Odewale, with agency report
The lawmakers adopted a resolution condemning the alleged withholding of funds for the management of the Assembly by the state government.
The faction led by its Speaker, Mr Martin Amaewhule, made the disclosure at its 87th plenary in Port Harcourt.
The group comprising 27 legislators, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of starving them of funds.
The 27 lawmakers out of the 32 lawmakers of the House, thereafter, announced their defection to the APC.
The defectors cited division in the PDP as the reason for crossing to the APC.
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Speaking after reading the letters signed by the defected lawmakers, Amaewhule directed the Clerk of the House to convey their resolution to Governor Fubara and relevant authorities.
According to him, the decision of 27 lawmakers was borne out of the desire to serve the state better.
However, the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2023′ scaled through the second reading at the plenary.
•APC welcomes defectors
Meanwhile, the APC in Rivers State has said it is open to receiving more defectors from the PDP, describing the defection of the 27 members of the state House of Assembly as a welcome development.
A spokesperson for the state APC Caretaker Committee, Chibuike Ikenga, stated this while speaking to our correspondent in Port Harcourt yesterday.
He said with the number of lawmakers now in the APC and others to follow, the state can be effectively governed.
Ikenga stated, “In an earlier interview, I did mention that our doors are open to welcoming anybody who is willing to be part of us.
“We are happy about this (lawmakers defection), and we expect that others will join so that we can swell the ranks of the APC and run the state properly. The defection of the lawmakers is a welcome development.”
•PDP shocked, says defectors’ actions not legal
The PDP has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately commence the process of conducting fresh elections into the 27 state constituencies in Rivers State following the defection of the lawmakers.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said by defecting from the PDP, the seats of the respective 27 lawmakers have become vacant by virtue of the provision of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The statement read, “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 109 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly 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…”
“By reason of the above Constitutional provision and its clear interpretation by the Supreme Court, the 27 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have vacated and lost their seats, rights, privileges, recognition and obligations accruable to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The PDP therefore demands that the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly immediately comply with the provision of the Constitution by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant.
“In view of the vacancy now exiting in the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State, the PDP demands that INEC should within the stipulated period under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) conduct fresh election to fill the vacancies.
“Our Party cautions that the former lawmakers should stop parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as such would amount to impersonation with serious criminal consequences.
“The PDP commends the people of Rivers State for their steadfastness and loyalty to Democracy and Rule of Law especially at this time.”
•5,000 APC, SDP members join Rivers PDP
In the countermove few hours after the defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, some prominent members of the APC and SDP in the state have also crossed over to the PDP.
Speaking at the ceremony, Princewill Ogbobula, pledged to assist the governor in his quest to assist President Tinubu to deliver his mandate.
Haribo Wilson, former Ahoada West CTC Chairman said he is moving to the PDP with 10 APC ward Chairmen, Ward Excos and 10 leaders of APC.
Oko Jumbo, Bonny State Constituency told the gathering that he was moving to the PDP with over 5,000 defectors from various political parties to support Fubara.
Goodboy Sokari, Ahoada West Constituency was also one of the defectors to the PDP at the event where PDP umbrellas and other paraphernalia were handed over to them
