The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday declared vacant the seat of the member representing Udu State Constituency, Hon. Collins Egbetamah, after he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The House also directed its Clerk to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the vacancy and requested the commission to commence the constitutional process for a by-election to fill the seat.
The decision followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by the House Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Dennis Guwor.
Declaring the seat vacant, Guwor said the House acted in line with Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that a lawmaker elected on the platform of a political party shall vacate the seat upon joining another political party before the expiration of the tenure, except in circumstances recognised by the constitution.
“Accordingly, this Honourable House is satisfied that the constitutional requirements under Section 109 of the Constitution have been fulfilled. Therefore, pursuant to Section 109(1) and (2), I hereby declare the seat of the Honourable Member representing Udu State Constituency vacant with immediate effect,” Guwor said.
He directed the Clerk to transmit the resolution to INEC and other relevant authorities, urging the commission to take the necessary constitutional steps to conduct a by-election in accordance with Section 116(2) of the Constitution.
Presenting the motion titled:”Consideration of the Letter from Honourable Member Representing Udu State Constituency Pursuant to Section 109 of the Constitution,” Nwaobi said documentary evidence before the House confirmed that Egbetamah had resigned from the APC and joined the NDC while still serving as a member of the Assembly.
He cited Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a member elected on the platform of one political party shall vacate the seat upon becoming a member of another political party before the end of the legislative term, except where the Constitution provides otherwise.
Earlier, the Speaker read Egbetamah’s resignation letter dated June 19, 2026, in which the lawmaker informed the House that he had resigned from the APC on April 30, 2026, to pursue his political aspirations.
In the letter, Egbetamah thanked the APC and its stakeholders for their support during his time in the party.
