The Peoples Democratic Party, on Saturday, vowed to challenge in court the defections of the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and his Cross River State counterpart, Ben Ayade, to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The opposition party said it would equally challenge the defection of lawmakers elected on its platform, who defected to other parties.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in response to the call made by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for the party to sue the two governors.

Ologbondiyan said, “For us in the PDP, every case of defection, whether by governors or legislators, will be tested in court. The mandate belongs to the party, not the individual; we will go to court and ensure that the people’s mandate is not stolen,” he said.

Wike had given the advice in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, titled ‘Wike asks PDP to challenge defection of Umayi, Ayade, others in court,’ and made available to journalists on Saturday evening.

The Rivers governor said the time had come for the judiciary to make a final pronouncement on the incessant defection of governors and lawmakers from one political party to another, in order to save the country from becoming a one-party state.

He said, “The time has come that the judiciary must rise to the occasion to make a final pronouncement on this issue of defections and that will go a long way in strengthening our democracy.

“Because if we do not take action, you will find a situation where you will have a one-party state and that will not be good for our democracy.

“So, I have encouraged the PDP; they must file a suit against the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, for defecting to the All Progressives Congress without any reason provided in the constitution or any other enabling law.

“What the PDP is looking for is not just that they want to reclaim the seats, but that a pronouncement must be made by the judiciary on this incessant defection without any reason at all, in order to enhance and strengthen our democracy,” Wike said.

He added, “Let it be on the record that the party (PDP) has been able to challenge it and let us await the outcome of the decision of the court, because the court has a role to strengthen our democracy. And part of the role the court must play is to make a final pronouncement on this issue of defections from one party to the other.”

Efforts to get the reactions of Ayade and Umahi were unsuccessful.

When contacted, Ayade’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, said he would talk to his principal and respond. He had, however, not done so as of the time of filing this report.

Attempts to get Umahi’s reaction equally failed.

(The PUNCH)

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