Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, representing the Ethiope East/West Federal Constituency in Delta State, has taken legal action to defend her defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
She declared that her move aligns with constitutional guidelines and vowed to challenge any attempts to declare her seat vacant.
In a statement on Friday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP national spokesperson, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct an election to fill her position.
Ologunagba said by her defection, Ibori-Suenu “willfully” vacated the Ethiope east/Ethiope west federal constituency seat which she represents in Delta state.
Reacting, the lawmaker filed an affidavit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, naming the House of Representatives Speaker, the House Clerk, and PDP as defendants.
Giving reasons for defecting, she cited prolonged internal conflicts within the PDP, including leadership struggles, unresolved disputes, and deep divisions among top party officials.
Ibori-Suenu pointed to the party’s escalating crisis since the 2023 presidential election primaries, which led to the creation of rival factions and the suspension of key officials.
These issues, she argued, have paralyzed the PDP’s national leadership and undermined its ability to function effectively.
Ibori-Suenu said: “For over a year, the 3rd defendant has been enmeshed in a series of unresolved leadership crises at the national, which crisis has driven the party into two implacable camps.
“The 3rd defendant (PDP) started grappling with the internal strife before the 2023 presidential election, particularly after the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, primaries conducted for the election of the party’s presidential candidate.”
