Defection: PDP Calls On INEC To Initiate Process of Election to Replace Obori's Daughter 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate the process for a fresh election to fill the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

The demand follows the defection of Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party stated that Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s defection automatically renders her seat vacant under Section 68 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The cited provision states:
“A member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat … if, being a person whose election to the House 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.”

The PDP argued that Hon. Ibori-Suenu’s action results in the loss of her seat, rights, privileges, and recognition as a member of the House of Representatives, based on Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution.

The party urged Hon. Ibori-Suenu to cease presenting herself as a representative to avoid “impersonation with likely criminal consequences.”

It further called on the Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly to enforce her removal.

Additionally, the PDP stated that it has formally communicated to INEC to conduct a by-election within the constitutionally stipulated timeframe to fill the now-vacant seat in Delta State.

The PDP directed its National Legal Adviser to initiate legal proceedings to protect the votes and mandate of the Ethiope East/Ethiope West constituents, which were originally granted to the PDP.

“The votes and mandate of the people of Ethiope East/Ethiope West cannot be appropriated by any person or political party under any guise,” the party asserted.