Abia PDP tells INEC to declare lawmaker’s seat vacant for joining LP

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the decision of the member representing Isiala Ngwa South constituency, Rowland Dennis Chinwendu, to leave the party and join the Labour Party, LP.

Chinwendu’s defection was announced on the floor of the Abia State House of Assembly on Tuesday, a few days after rumours surfaced that he was planning to leave PDP.

Reacting to the development, PDP stated that it would immediately write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the lawmaker’s seat vacant without delay.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening by Eric Ikwuagwu, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in Abia, the party described Chinwendu’s defection as unethical and unconstitutional.

According to Ikwuagwu, Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) clearly stipulates that any member of a legislative house who defects from the party on whose platform they were elected must vacate their seat unless there is a clear division or merger in the original party.

He explained that no division or merger currently exists in the Abia PDP.
The party also stated that it would “institute immediate legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to ensure that the constitutional provisions protecting the integrity of our democratic system are strictly upheld.”