In a significant political development, Kalu Kalu, a prominent Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the 27 lawmakers from Rivers State, who recently switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, have forfeited their seats in the parliamentary arena.
Kalu Kalu, a seasoned lawyer, explained the legal ramifications behind this decision, stating that elected officials can only defect during their term if there is a discernible leadership struggle within their original party. In a Tuesday interview on Arise News, he clarified, “The 27 affected constituencies, their seats are already vacant… Once you defect from the political party from which you won election, to another political party before the expiration of the house upon which you were elected, that you automatically lose that seat.”
The legal perspective was further emphasized as Kalu debunked the possibility of a division within the PDP, asserting, “The proviso in section 109-1g is clear that if there is a division in the party upon which the member came to the house in question, that the person has the right to move to another political party.” He highlighted the absence of conflicting opinions within the PDP, both at the national and state levels.
Aside from legalities, Kalu shared personal insights, affirming his allegiance to the APC and describing his previous association with the PDP as purely a lawyer-client relationship. Addressing the situation in Rivers State, he delved into the intricacies of party dynamics, stating, “It is only when there is a leadership crisis, when there is a split in the leadership of the party at the national level that you can now say that there is a split.” He emphasized that, as of the moment, the PDP is functioning without any faction both nationally and within Rivers State.
Concluding his remarks, Kalu drew attention to the constitutional implications of the lawmakers’ defection, pointing out that the seats of the 27 affected constituencies are already vacant. He asserted, “So, there’s no split, there’s no division in the PDP, and I stand to be quoted wrong.” Kalu urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate the process of conducting bye-elections to fill the now-vacant seats, adhering to the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This development adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape in Rivers State, with potential ramifications for both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP. GMTNews
