Lawyer Challenges Egbetamah’s Removal for Defecting from APC to the NDC, Says Defection Dispute Belongs in Court
A legal practitioner, Barrister Novwe Ikie, has criticised the removal of Hon. Egbetamah as the member representing Udu Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, describing the action as unconstitutional and politically selective.
In a statement titled “If I Were Governor Sheriff Oborevwori,” Ikie argued that the lawmaker’s removal over his defection from the APC to the NDC should have been determined by a competent court rather than the House of Assembly.
He contended that the Assembly lacked the constitutional authority to unilaterally declare the seat vacant, insisting that disputes arising from the defection of elected legislators are matters for judicial interpretation.
“The Delta State House of Assembly cannot simultaneously serve as the accuser, the judge and the jury,” Ikie said, adding that only the courts can determine whether a legislator’s defection warrants the loss of a seat.
The lawyer also accused the state government and the Assembly of applying double standards, noting that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the majority of lawmakers had earlier defected from the PDP to the APC without forfeiting their offices.
According to him, Egbetamah, who remained in the APC until changes in the party’s political composition prompted his move to the NDC, was being unfairly singled out for sanctions.
Ikie argued that even if there were legal grounds to question the lawmaker’s continued membership of the House, the proper course of action would have been to seek a judicial pronouncement instead of taking legislative action.
He warned that the decision could undermine public confidence in the legislature by creating the impression that different standards were being applied to lawmakers based on political affiliation.
The legal practitioner urged Governor Oborevwori to allow the courts to determine the constitutional issues surrounding the defection, saying such an approach would have demonstrated respect for the rule of law and strengthened democratic institutions.
