PDP Acting Chairman Damagum Requests INEC to Replace Rivers Lawmakers Who Defected.

Umar Damagun, the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has formally requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) organize bye-elections for 27 state constituencies in Rivers State.

This call comes after the lawmakers from these constituencies left the PDP to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated November 13, 2024, Damagun appealed to INEC to declare these seats vacant and proceed with fresh elections, following the recent defections. He cited the provisions of Section 109 (1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which asserts that a lawmaker loses their seat if they move to another party without legitimate grounds. Damagun argued that these lawmakers did not have any lawful justification, such as an internal party division or merger, to warrant their switch to the APC. According to him, their departure from the PDP nullifies their positions, necessitating new elections to fill these roles.