The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has defended the decision of the Delta State House of Assembly declaring the seat of the member representing Udu State Constituency, Hon. Collins Egbetamah, vacant, describing criticisms by former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, as misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Valentine Onojeghuo, Esq., on Wednesday, the APC said the House acted within the provisions of the Constitution in declaring the seat vacant following Egbetamah’s defection from the party.
The party condemned what it described as Senator Omo-Agege’s “reckless, misleading and self-serving” attack on the State Assembly, insisting that the legislature merely discharged its constitutional responsibility.
According to the APC, the Assembly relied on Sections 109(1)(g) and 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which provide that a lawmaker elected on the platform of a political party shall vacate his or her seat upon becoming a member of another political party before the expiration of the tenure, except where the defection is occasioned by a division within the sponsoring party.
The statement maintained that no such division existed within the APC at the national level to justify Hon. Collins Egbetamah’s defection.
The party further alleged that beyond leaving the APC, Egbetamah registered with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, participated in the party’s internal activities and contested its primary election for the Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency.
The APC said these actions left “no room for constitutional ambiguity, political propaganda or media theatrics.”
The statement criticized Senator Omo-Agege’s interpretation of the Constitution, saying it was “legally untenable, politically self-serving, and clearly intended to blackmail a constitutionally empowered legislature for cheap political advantage.”
The party also dismissed the former Deputy Senate President’s argument on fair hearing, insisting that constitutional provisions on defection are mandatory and cannot be overridden by political considerations.
According to the statement, “The invocation of fair hearing cannot be used to override the express mandatory provisions of Sections 109(1)(g) and 68(1)(g). Constitutional obligations cannot be sacrificed on the altar of political sentiments.”
The APC said it was regrettable that Omo-Agege had chosen to undermine constitutional governance because of his political relationship with the affected lawmaker.
It stated, “Statesmanship demands fidelity to the Constitution, not emotional outbursts or inflammatory rhetoric designed to score cheap partisan points. Senator Omo-Agege should know better.”
The party commended the Delta State House of Assembly for what it described as upholding constitutional supremacy and preserving the sanctity of the electoral mandate.
It argued that allowing elected representatives to abandon the political parties that sponsored their elections without constitutional consequences would amount to a betrayal of the electorate and weaken Nigeria’s democratic system.
The APC urged Senator Omo-Agege to refrain from misleading the public and advised that any disagreement over the constitutional interpretation should be pursued through the courts rather than the media.
Reaffirming its position, the party declared its commitment to the rule of law, constitutional democracy and the supremacy of the Constitution, pledging continued support for lawful actions aimed at protecting the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
