By Hagxy Don
The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Damagun, has declared that the 25 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have no legal remedy to reclaim their seats. According to him, their defection from the PDP automatically nullified their positions, and their only option is to contest fresh elections under their new political parties.
Damagun’s stance aligns with that of Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, both of whom insist that the affected lawmakers ceased to be legislators the moment they switched allegiance. The PDP leadership maintains that the constitutional provision on defection is clear—lawmakers cannot abandon the party that brought them into office and still expect to retain their seats.
The mass defection, widely seen as a move influenced by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, has deepened the political crisis in Rivers State. However, the PDP has taken a firm position, refusing to recognize the defectors and warning that any attempt to circumvent due process will not stand.
This development further strengthens the PDP’s grip on Rivers State and serves as a warning to politicians considering similar defections. Under Damagun’s leadership, the party is making it clear that loyalty matters and that those who jump ship must be ready to face the consequences at the ballot box. Whether these lawmakers can regain their lost seats remains an open question, but for now, the message from the PDP is loud and clear—there is no shortcut back to power.
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