Rivers Assembly Speaker Notifies INEC Of 25 Vacant Seats After Mass Defection
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, has formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of 25 vacant seats following the defection of lawmakers to the APC.
Ehie informed INEC in a letter that was confirmed as received, highlighting the open seats created after 27 pro-Wike assembly members exited the PDP for the APC on Monday. Two members have since returned to the PDP.
The notification follows the exit of Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 24 other legislators, leaving their positions open for by-elections as required by law.
The mass defection of Gov. Nyesom Wike’s loyalists has triggered political turmoil in Rivers State. The pro-Wike faction contends it still holds a majority and can impeach the new PDP governor.
But Ehie’s letter signals the assembly seats are deemed vacant. INEC now faces the prospect of conducting by-polls for 25 open positions amid Rivers’ chaotic constitutional crisis.
The notification will also ratchet pressure on the electoral body to organize elections, with Gov. Wike accusing INEC of bias and the PDP accusing it of being missing in action.
