The People's Democratic Party (PDP) claims firm control over Rivers State's political landscape, invoking constitutional provisions amidst resistance from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a dramatic turn of events in Rivers State's political theater, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has declared what it terms as "full control" over the state, asserting dominance under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The proclamation, announced by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, has intensified an already heated political atmosphere.
According to Ologunagba, the PDP's claim to supremacy rests on constitutional provisions, particularly highlighting Section 109(1)(g) of Nigeria's constitution. This section, he argues, mandates the forfeiture of legislative seats for members who defect to another political party. Consequently, all legislators who shifted allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are deemed to have vacated their positions, according to the PDP.
However, the APC, undeterred by the PDP's bold assertion, has initiated a counteroffensive. The Caretaker Committee of the APC in Rivers State called for impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, a move swiftly dismissed by the Rivers State Government. The ensuing clash underscores the deepening divide between the two political giants, each vying for control over the state's governance apparatus.
Amidst the legal and political jousting, Ologunagba admonishes the APC to abandon hope of wresting control from the PDP, insisting that the former legislators have irrevocably forfeited their seats. He warns against attempts to reverse what he perceives as an irreversible shift in political dynamics, citing Supreme Court precedent to support his argument.
As tensions escalate, the fate of Rivers State hangs in the balance. With the quorum of the State House of Assembly now in question and vacancies left by defecting legislators, the state's legislative agenda faces uncertainty. The PDP remains resolute in its grip on power, while the APC plots its next move in what promises to be a protracted battle for political supremacy.
Against this backdrop of uncertainty and power struggle, Rivers State finds itself at a crossroads, with the implications of the PDP's assertion reverberating far beyond its borders. As stakeholders brace for the fallout, the stage is set for a showdown that will shape the trajectory of Nigerian politics for years to come.
