NDC Condemns Delta Assembly Over Declaration of Udu Lawmaker’s Seat Vacant

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the Delta State House of Assembly for declaring the seat of Udu Constituency lawmaker, Hon. Collins Egbetanah, vacant following his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC.

The party also faulted the Assembly’s decision to declare Egbetanah a persona non grata, describing the actions as unconstitutional and politically motivated.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq., the NDC described the Assembly’s decision as an act of vindictive politics and selective justice.

Egbetanah was elected into the Assembly on the APC platform and served as a minority lawmaker until Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and several members of the House defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

According to the NDC, the governor’s loyalists allegedly began to view Egbetanah as a political threat because of his status as one of the original APC members in the House and his loyalty to former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The party further alleged that the Assembly had withheld the lawmaker’s salaries and other entitlements for several months before declaring his seat vacant.

“We consider this action to be politically abhorrent and unacceptable. The process by which his seat was declared vacant is unconstitutional and infringes upon Egbetanah’s rights to freedom of association and assembly,” the statement read.

The NDC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject what it described as an illegal act and political intimidation by the Delta State House of Assembly.

The party said it would pursue all legal avenues to challenge the decision, while urging the Assembly to allow Egbetanah to continue performing his constitutional duties as the elected representative of Udu Constituency.

It added that it remained committed to ensuring that the people of Udu Constituency continue to enjoy effective representation and the dividends of democracy.