The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the decision of the Delta State House of Assembly to declare the seat of the member representing Udu State Constituency, Hon. Collins Egbetamah, vacant following his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the NDC.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party described the action as “politically abominable and reprehensible,” arguing that the declaration was unconstitutional and violated the lawmaker’s constitutional rights to freedom of association and assembly.
The NDC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard what it described as an “act of illegality and political gangsterism” by the Delta State House of Assembly.
The party also urged the Assembly to allow Egbetamah to continue performing the constitutional responsibilities for which he was elected, adding that it had commenced legal steps to challenge the decision.
According to the statement, Egbetamah was elected into the Delta State House of Assembly on the platform of the APC and initially served as a minority member until Delta State Governor and several members of the Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The NDC alleged that following the mass defection, some of the governor’s loyalists began to view Egbetamah as a political threat because he was an original member of the APC and remained loyal to former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The party further claimed that, acting on the directive of the Delta State Government, the House withheld Egbetamah’s salaries and other entitlements for several months.
It stated that on April 30, 2026, Egbetamah resigned from the APC and joined the NDC, alleging that his decision was met with “vindictiveness, political callousness and indignity” by the state government and the House of Assembly.
“We are hereby calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the act of illegality and political gangsterism by the Delta State House of Assembly.
“As we take every legal step to resolve this matter, we urge the Delta State House of Assembly to allow Hon. Egbetamah to perform the constitutional duties for which he was elected by his constituents,” the statement said.
