Rivers Assembly Declares Seats Of 27 Defected Lawmakers Vacant

The Rivers State House of Assembly has declared the seats of the 27 members who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress vacant.

VerseNews earlier reported that the lawmakers, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defected from the party amid moves to impeach the state governor, Sim Fubara.

The decision to declare the seats vacant was made in line with Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

The Assembly called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections to fill the vacancies.

According to the Speaker of the House, Edison Ehie, who made the announcemnt on Wednesday, “Distinguished colleagues, the House will duly inform the Independent National Electoral Commission of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and indeed, to conduct a fresh election to fill the above vacancies.”

The 27 lawmakers were also absent at Wednesday’s sitting.