The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has criticised the Delta State House of Assembly over its handling of the defection of the member representing Udu Constituency, Hon. Collins Egbetanah, describing the decision to declare his seat vacant as unconstitutional and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Osa Director Esq., the NDC accused the Assembly of engaging in “vindictive politics” and selective justice against the lawmaker following his resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequent defection to the NDC.
According to the party, Egbetanah was originally elected to the Delta State House of Assembly on the platform of the APC and remained in the minority until the Delta State Governor and several lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The NDC alleged that after the governor’s loyalists joined the APC, Egbetanah was perceived as a political threat because of his status as an original APC member and his loyalty to former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege. It further claimed that the lawmaker was denied his salaries and other entitlements for several months before leaving the APC.
The party stated that Egbetanah formally resigned from the APC on April 30, 2026, and joined the NDC, adding that his decision was followed by what it described as political persecution, culminating in the declaration of his seat as vacant by the Delta State House of Assembly.
The NDC argued that the Assembly’s action violated the lawmaker’s constitutional rights to freedom of association and assembly, insisting that the declaration of vacancy lacked constitutional backing.
The opposition party called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard what it described as an illegal action by the Assembly and pledged to challenge the matter through legal means.
It also urged the Delta State House of Assembly to allow Egbetanah to continue representing the people of Udu Constituency pending the resolution of the dispute.
Reaffirming its commitment to the people of the constituency, the NDC maintained that residents should not be denied effective representation as a result of what it termed legislative excesses and political victimisation.
