The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin the process of conducting a new election for the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, following the defection of Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, issued a statement asserting that Ibori-Suenu’s defection had automatically vacated her seat in the House, citing the clear interpretation of constitutional provisions, particularly Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). According to the PDP, this constitutional provision mandates that a lawmaker who defects from the party on which they were elected forfeits their seat.
Ologunagba emphasized that Ibori-Suenu should no longer present herself as a member of the House of Representatives, warning that continuing to do so could lead to legal consequences, including charges of impersonation. The PDP also urged the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms to formally recognize Ibori-Suenu’s defection and remove her from any official records as a member of the House.
This comes in the wake of Ibori-Suenu’s defection, along with the defection of four Labour Party lawmakers to the ruling APC, which has sparked political reactions across the country.
