Two of 27 defected lawmakers reportedly return to PDP, apologises to Fubara

 

Two of the 27 Rivers House Of Assembly lawmakers that decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday have reneged from the defection while a good number of others are relentlessly lobbying to also return, The Guardian gathered. 

The two lawmakers who have so far returned and apologised to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, are Tonye Adoki, a member representing Port Harcourt Constituency II, and Linda Somiari Stewart representing Okrika Constituency at the State House of Assembly. 

Confirming the development, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Joseph Johnson, said there are more defected members jostling to return. 

Johnson noted that the state needs peace and unity to thrive, assuring that the administration of Fubara will continue to take steps that will entrench peace in the State.

The Guardian’s observation shows that most of the defected lawmakers were only adhering to directives without adequate knowledge of the implications. 

Their breakout from the defection may have followed arguments by some lawyers and political analysts in the  State that the lawmakers shot themselves in the foot by allegedly allowing themselves to be controlled by a selfish godfather. 

Some of lawyers argued that the division cited by the lawmakers  as their reason for defection  was baseless, stressing that there is no factional Chairman in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or other  crisis situation that may have caused their action. 

A constitutional lawyer and lecturer at the Rivers State University, Prof Richard Wokocha said, the law recognises only the four lawmakers who remained in PDP as the only legitimate members of the State Assembly.

He said, there is no party crisis or other valid situations to justify the defection.

Wokocha added that the defection has  opened  a new chapter for the crisis in the state.