The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chapter in Abia State has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to request that Chris Nkwonta’s seat in the House of Representatives representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West be declared vacant.
This comes after Chris Nkwonta defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday in the House.

A statement released by Jude Ndukwe, Media Adviser to the PDP Caretaker Committee in Abia, also asked INEC to conduct a new election within the constitutionally stipulated time to replace the defected member.

The PDP argued that Nkwonta did not meet the provisions of the law leading to his defection to the APC.

Ndukwe added that there was no internal issue in the state’s PDP and even at the federal level for Knwonta to justify his abuse of the law.

Ndukwe, in the statement, said, “This call on INEC is for the electoral body to comply with the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) since Hon. Nkwonta’s defection did not meet the conditions precedent to the defection of a federal lawmaker as provided for by our laws

However, Don Ubani, a former Chief of Staff in the state and a member of the PDP from the Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West Federal constituencies, stated that Nkwonta’s defection was consistent with the decision of the party’s chieftain in the constituency.