Politics

Rivers Lawmakers’ Defection Violates APC Constitution – Party Chieftain

Published

2 years ago

December 12, 2023

… IYC Wants Seats Declared Vacant

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Darlington Nwauju, has stated that the defection of the 27 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the APC, contravened the Constitution of the party.

This was as the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, worldwide, called on the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers that left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on which they were elected to the APC.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Nwauju, an embattled Publicity Secretary of the party in the Rivers State noted that the 27 lawmakers did not follow the due process provided by law in their movement to the APC, adding that the decamping contravened the Constitution of APC.

Nwauju noted that the party cannot celebrate the movement of the 27 lawmakers to the APC, adding that they did not approach their decamping from the ward level as provided by the party’s guiding principle.

He said: “Ordinarily, as a political party we should be opening our door for new members from other political parties. However, in this instant case, the defection of the lawmakers, passing through the constitutionally approved method of defection in our party, from Article 8 and 9 of the APC Constitution 2022 as amended, you will clearly see the method and that is by joining through your ward, that is, getting registered at the ward level.

“There are also some exceptions, wherein the national working committee of the party can sit and consider in special cases, to approve waivers for certain individuals. At the 134th meeting, you heard the outcome of that particular meeting. It did not point to the fact that some persons had applied for a waiver to join APC in Rivers State.”

Meanwhile, the President of IYC, Alaye Theophilus, called on the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie to declare the seats of the 27 lawmakers vacant.

Theophilus spoke during a solidarity march to the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, during the 25th Kaiama Day commemoration.

“In as much as Rivers State is, it is a PDP state. As a student of politics and history, Nigeria law has made it explicitly clear that before an individual who won a seat from a particular party will be allowed to defect to another party, there must be crisis in the party.

“In as much as we know, there is no division in PDP. So, I don’t think they know what they are doing. It is now left for the Honourable Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie to do the needful by declaring their seats vacant. Because they have taken the wrong step.”

Related Topics:APC IYC PDP lawmakers Rivers

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Politics

Oshiomhole Blasts Amaechi, Says He Built Railway To Niger Republic Instead Of Port Harcourt

Published

6 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole on Monday criticised former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accusing him of poor judgment and misplaced priorities during his tenure in office.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Oshiomhole said: “Rotimi Amaechi is the most terrible. Look at the choice of language. A guy who shut down Rivers judiciary because he wanted to appoint his own personal favourite as chief judge of Rivers State. Once he couldn’t have his way, the Rivers State judiciary was shut down for almost two years.

“Look at the crisis in the railway system that he superintendent over for eight unbroken years. He was unable to get the priorities right, playing to the gallery.

“Now he rather constructed a rail, not to Kano, not to Port Harcourt, where he came from, but to Niger Republic.

“Which goods are we sending to Niger Republic? He was a minister. And if you were a minister under Buhari, you will be fair to him, life or death, that Buhari gave anyone he appointed free hand to do the job he assigned to you. That is what Buhari was.”

Politics

State Police Can No Longer Be Delayed – South-West Governors

Published

6 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

The Southwest Governors Forum is set to create a South West Regional Security Fund to strengthen responses to insecurity in the region.

This initiative aims to address the rise in kidnapping, banditry, illegal mining, and unregulated interstate migration.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the six governors on Monday at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.

In the communiqué issued at the end, it was agreed that all six states would support coordinated operations, joint intelligence sharing, and rapid-response initiatives across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti states.

The governors also emphasised that the establishment of state police “can no longer be delayed.”

They applauded President Bola Tinubu for security interventions in states affected by kidnappings, while urging sustained attention on regional development.

Politics

JUST IN: Atiku Officially Joins ADC, Registers With Party In Adamawa

Published

13 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Editor

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State, signalling a major development in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The registration took place on Monday, following Atiku’s announcement to ADC supporters and stakeholders in Adamawa over the weekend.

Abdul Rasheeth, an aide to the former vice president, had confirmed the development in a statement obtained by The PUNCH.

Videos and photos from the event showed Atiku’s convoy arriving in the town to the cheers of supporters, who beat drums, sang, and carried placards with his image.

Atiku waved and greeted well-wishers from his vehicle as he received his ADC membership card.

In a brief X (Formerly Twitter) post on his handle shorty after his registration, Atiku wrote,” It’s official. -AA”

This move formalises Atiku’s association with the coalition party, which he had previously endorsed in July as a platform for opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Babachir Lawal, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Until now, Atiku and other opposition leaders had delayed their formal registration with the ADC.

The former vice president’s registration is expected to strengthen the party’s profile and consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general election.