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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Delta State House of Assembly of carrying out a politically motivated attack against the member representing Udu Constituency, Collins Egbetanah, following his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition party.
The party also described the Assembly’s decision to declare Egbetanah’s seat vacant as unconstitutional, vindictive and a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of association.
In a statement yesterday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, it called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject what it described as an illegal attempt to remove the lawmaker from office.
According to the statement, the lawmaker had been subjected to victimisation long before he left the APC, having been elected into the Delta State House of Assembly on its platform and was initially a minority lawmaker until Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and several members of the House defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling party.
It added that despite becoming members of the same political party, Egbetanah allegedly became a target because he was regarded as an original APC member, who remained loyal to former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The NDC further alleged that the Delta State Government and the House deprived the lawmaker of his salaries and entitlements for several months before he eventually resigned from the APC.
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Egbetanah, it continued, formally joined the NDC on April 30, a defection the NDC alleged triggered vindictiveness, political callousness and indignity from the state government and the Assembly.
The statement said: “In a politically unprecedented move, the Delta State House of Assembly purportedly declared his seat vacant and declared him a persona non grata.
“We view this action as politically abominable and reprehensible. The manner in which his seat was declared vacant is unconstitutional and violates his right to free assembly and association.”
The party called on INEC to reject what it described as an illegal attempt to remove the lawmaker from office, while urging it to disregard the Assembly’s action for lacking constitutional backing.
The party also disclosed that it would challenge the development through legal means while demanding that Egbetanah be allowed to continue representing the people of Udu Constituency.
“The NDC is committed to ensuring that the people of Udu Constituency continue to enjoy the benefits and dividends of democracy through effective representation by Egbetanah.
“Our commitment to service to the people cannot be abridged by any form of legislative rascality,” the statement added.
