In a news conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emphasized that the Rivers House of Assembly cannot impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the APC lawmakers are no longer considered members of the House.
According to Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the directive from the state’s APC chapter for the lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor is futile.
Citing Section 109 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, Ologunagba stated that the APC lawmakers had forfeited their seats in the House upon their defection from the PDP, the party under which they were originally elected.
Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution specifies that a member of a House of Assembly must vacate their seat if they switch political parties before the end of their term. Ologunagba stressed that this provision operates automatically, resulting in the loss of seats for the Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected.