Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the lawmaker representing Ethiope East/West Federal Constituency in Delta State, has declared that her defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was lawful.
She insisted that her seat in the House of Representatives remains valid despite opposition from her former party.
In an affidavit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Ibori-Suenu outlined her reasons for switching parties, citing constitutional compliance as her defense.
“The People’s Democratic Party has been in crisis for over a year,” she stated, adding that the turmoil started long before the 2023 general elections.
The affidavit listed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Clerk of the House, and the PDP as defendants.
The lawmaker accused her former party of being riddled with unresolved leadership disputes and factionalism.
“Deep Crisis Drove Me Out”
Ibori-Suenu traced the roots of the PDP’s problems to the fallout from its 2023 presidential primaries and the subsequent selection of a vice-presidential candidate.
She explained how these decisions created divisions within the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and led to the formation of the G-5 governors, including Nyesom Wike and Seyi Makinde.
“The crisis deepened when a High Court restrained Iyorchia Ayu from acting as the national chairman,” she added.
According to her, the appointment of an acting chairman failed to ease tensions, instead escalating internal disputes.
Efforts to replace the chairman, she claimed, were hindered by the party’s inability to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
“This failure violated Articles 45(2) and 47(6) of the PDP Constitution,” she stated, while presenting the party’s constitution as evidence in court.
Leadership Battles and Suspensions
Ibori-Suenu described how the PDP leadership descended into chaos on October 11, 2024, when the NWC members issued multiple suspensions and counter-suspensions.
Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, announced the suspension of Acting National Chairman Iliya Umar Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
In a bizarre twist, another statement from the PDP’s National Director of Publicity, Chinwe Nnorom, countered this by declaring Ologunagba and National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade suspended instead.
“The party established a committee led by Taofeek Arapaja to investigate the allegations, but this only heightened the division,” Ibori-Suenu said.
Atiku vs. Wike Camps
The lawmaker highlighted the ongoing feud between supporters of PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the camp of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
“Atiku’s camp has called for the suspension of Wike and his allies for anti-party activities,” she revealed.
Wike’s supporters, however, have demanded disciplinary actions against Atiku’s allies, including Sule Lamido and Babangida Aliyu.
“This vicious cycle of accusations and counter-accusations showed that the party was irreparably broken,” she stated.
“I Followed the Constitution”
Ibori-Suenu maintained that her defection complied with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
She argued that the PDP’s internal crisis justified her decision to leave and nullified any claims that her seat should be declared vacant.
Her affidavit emphasized that she acted within her rights and adhered to constitutional provisions.
