Political tensions rise as Abia PDP moves against Hon. Dennis Rowland Ceaser over his defection to Labour Party. The party demands INEC to declare his seat vacant, setting the stage for a legal showdown. Details here!
The political atmosphere in Abia State has taken a dramatic turn as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially demanded the removal of Hon. Dennis Rowland Ceaser from his legislative position following his recent defection to the Labour Party (LP). The opposition party has vowed to take legal action and petition the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare his seat vacant.
Hon. Ceaser, who represents Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, had won his seat under the PDP platform in 2023. However, tensions escalated after his public endorsement of Governor Alex Otti’s second-term bid, a move that led to his suspension from the PDP at the ward level. Shortly after, he officially dumped the party for the Labour Party, a decision that has ignited a fierce political battle.
Reacting to the defection, the Abia State PDP issued a strongly worded statement, condemning Hon. Ceaser’s attempt to retain his legislative seat despite leaving the party that gave him the mandate. The party referenced Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that any lawmaker who defects from their party must vacate their seat unless there is a clear division or merger in the party. The PDP insists that no division or merger exists within its ranks, rendering Ceaser’s continued occupancy of his seat unconstitutional.
In the statement, signed by PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Eric Ikwuagwu, the party announced two major steps:
A formal petition to INEC, requesting the electoral body to declare Ceaser’s seat vacant and commence the process of conducting a by-election to replace him.
Immediate legal action to compel the court to enforce the constitutional provision requiring defecting lawmakers to relinquish their positions.
Hon. Ceaser’s defection has further fueled political realignments in Abia State, particularly within the State House of Assembly, where Labour Party is gaining more influence. His move is seen as a major boost for Governor Alex Otti, whose administration continues to attract political converts.
However, PDP has maintained that Ceaser’s action betrays the trust of the people who voted for him under the PDP platform, stressing that his exit should come with a forfeiture of his seat. The party vowed to pursue the matter legally to prevent what it described as an abuse of the electoral mandate.
Political analysts believe this latest development could trigger a wave of legal and political battles ahead of the next election cycle. The fate of Hon. Ceaser’s legislative position now rests on INEC and the judiciary, as the PDP intensifies efforts to reclaim what it calls its rightful mandate.
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