PDP Faction Calls for Urgent Elections to Fill Vacant Seats in Rivers State Assembly
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, led by Edwin Woko, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently schedule elections to fill 27 vacant positions in the State House of Assembly.
The vacant seats, according to Woko, were created after the lawmakers defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Woko reminded INEC of a formal request from the party’s acting National Chairman, urging the electoral body to conduct elections for the vacant seats as soon as possible.
Woko’s call followed Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s presentation of the N1.1 trillion 2025 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is currently led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, on Monday. The factional PDP leader commended Governor Fubara for adhering to constitutional provisions by presenting the budget to what he referred to as the “only legally recognized and functional Assembly” in Rivers State.
Woko argued that the 27 defected lawmakers, under the leadership of Martins Amewhule, had ceased their legislative duties in accordance with Section 109(g) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended. The faction reiterated its full support for Governor Fubara, praising his commitment to governance despite the reduced membership in the Assembly.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has remained deeply divided, particularly after an attempt to impeach Governor Fubara on October 30, 2023, which led to the defection of the 27 state lawmakers, now loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This rift became even more evident when an explosion rocked the Assembly chamber, escalating the crisis.
While the 27 defected lawmakers continue to pledge allegiance to Wike, only three lawmakers—down from four following the appointment of Edison Ehie as Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara—remain loyal to the governor. However, the 27 defectors have denied leaving the PDP, claiming that videos circulating about their defection during a plenary session were fabricated using artificial intelligence.
