ASABA: The Delta State House of Assembly has defended its decision to declare the Udu State Constituency seat vacant, maintaining that the action was taken strictly in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Speaking in Asaba, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and House Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, said the Assembly’s decision was based entirely on constitutional requirements rather than political considerations.
According to him, lawmakers carefully reviewed the resignation and defection letter submitted by the representative of Udu Constituency before reaching their resolution.
Nwaobi explained that Nigeria’s Constitution outlines the circumstances under which a legislator may leave the political party under which he or she was elected without forfeiting the seat.
He said one of the key constitutional exceptions is the existence of a division or crisis within the political party at the national level.
The House Leader stated that the Assembly found no evidence indicating that the lawmaker’s defection met the constitutional conditions required to retain the legislative seat after changing political parties.
He stressed that every resolution adopted by the Assembly is guided by constitutional provisions and the rule of law.
The House is committed to carrying out its constitutional responsibilities without bias or political influence, Nwaobi said, adding that the decision should not be interpreted as an act of political persecution.
He further noted that the legislature remains committed to strengthening democratic governance, protecting legislative integrity, and ensuring compliance with constitutional provisions in all its decisions.
Nwaobi urged residents of Delta State and the wider public to consult the relevant sections of the Constitution before drawing conclusions about the Assembly’s action, insisting that adherence to the law remains the guiding principle behind the House’s decisions.
The declaration of the Udu Constituency seat as vacant has generated political debate in Delta State, with differing opinions emerging from political stakeholders over the constitutional interpretation of lawmakers’ defections.
The Assembly, however, maintains that its position is consistent with its constitutional mandate and that all legislative actions will continue to be guided by the law rather than political cons
