Umar Damagum, the acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
conduct a bye-election to fill “vacant” seats in the Rivers state house of
assembly.
Damagum’s demand is contained in a letter dated December 12,
2023, addressed to Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman.
In a letter seen, the electoral umpire
acknowledged receipt of the document on November 13, 2024.
BACKGROUND
In October 2023, Ehie Edison, a member loyal to Siminalayi
Fubara, governor of Rivers, was elected speaker of the factional assembly after
his removal as house leader by lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule.
On December 11, 27 lawmakers of the assembly led by
Amaewhule defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers are loyal to Nyesom Wike, the immediate past
governor of Rivers and the current minister of the federal capital territory
(FCT).
On December 12, Edison declared the lawmakers’ seats vacant.
However, Edison resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of
staff to the governor.
The affected lawmakers approached the court seeking to stop
their replacement.
In September, a high court in Abuja dismissed a suit seeking
the sack of the lawmakers, while Victor Oko-Jumbo has since been elected as the
speaker of the assembly.
‘THE DEFECTION IS
UNLAWFUL’
In the letter, Damugum described the defection of the
lawmakers as a “gross violation” of section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999
Constitution.
“In view of the foregoing, we hereby demand that the
commission perform its constitutional duties and begin the process of
conducting a fresh election to fill the vacancies created in the 27 state
constituencies by the unlawful act of the assembly members,” the letter reads.
“While thanking the commission for its commitment to
deepening democracy in our country, please accept the assurances of our highest
regards.”
The crisis in the Rivers house of assembly is attributed to
the power struggle between Fubara and Wike.
Damagum is Wike’s ally.
It’s unclear why the party did not make the letter public
ever since it was written.
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