The decision by the Delta State House of Assembly (DSHA) to declare the seat of Udu State Constituency member Egbetamah Ovie Collins vacant after he defected to the party is being criticised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Delta State and Senator Ovie Omo-Age, Deputy President of the 9th Senate, as unlawful, unfair, politically motivated, and an affront to democratic principles.
The NDC’s Delta State Publicity Secretary, McCollins Nwose, issued a statement to journalists in which the party accused the Assembly of having double standards. The statement pointed out that politicians who had defected from the PDP to the APC had not faced similar sanctions while still holding onto their seats.
According to the NDC, the move was an effort to censor dissenting opinions in the state and an abuse of legislative authority.
The party argues that Egbetamah’s mandate does not belong to them but to the people of Udu State Constituency, and that it is a violation of constitutional rules to remove him from office due to his defection, therefore undermining the will of the electorate.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) issued a rallying cry to the people of Delta State, civil society organisations, and democracy supporters, urging them to stand up against what they saw as a harmful precedent and support constitutional democracy.
The party’s dedication to safeguarding the people’s democratic rights and mandate was reiterated.