The Delta State House of Assembly has defended its decision to declare the seat of the member representing Udu Constituency vacant, insisting the action was taken in strict compliance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Chairman of the House Committee on Information and House Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, said the Assembly acted within its constitutional mandate after receiving and considering the resignation and defection letter submitted by the lawmaker. He stressed that the decision was based on legal provisions rather than political considerations.
According to Nwaobi, the Constitution permits a lawmaker to retain a legislative seat after defecting from a political party only where there is a division or crisis within that party at the national level. He maintained that no evidence was presented to the House showing that the lawmaker’s defection met the constitutional exception.
He dismissed claims that the declaration was politically motivated, stating that the Assembly merely carried out its constitutional responsibility. Nwaobi added that every action of the House is guided by the Constitution and should not be interpreted as a political vendetta against any individual or party.
The Assembly had earlier declared the seat vacant after the lawmaker representing Udu Constituency resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Following the declaration, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin the process of conducting a by-election to fill the vacant seat.
The decision has, however, sparked criticism from the NDC and former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, who described the action as unconstitutional and politically driven, arguing that due process was not followed before the seat was declared vacant.
