Hon. Edison Ehie, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has declared the seats of the lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress vacant.
NewsBand Newspaper reported on Monday that 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the federal capital territory, Barrister Nysom Wike, left PDP for APC
Though, the affected lawmakers were not present at the sitting where their seats were declared vacant.
The four-member Assembly announced that the decision to declare the seats vacant was by Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
After reading the names of the lawmakers, the speaker urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold new elections within the legally mandated window of time to occupy the roles.
He said, “Distinguished colleagues, the House will duly inform the Independent National Electoral Commission of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and indeed, conduct a fresh election to fill the above vacancies.”