By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the Delta State House of Assembly’s declaration of the seat of the member representing Udu Constituency, Hon. Collins Egbetanah, as vacant, describing the action as unconstitutional, vindictive and a violation of his constitutional rights.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq. on Monday, theoppositon party accused the Delta State Government and the State House of Assembly of engaging in selective justice and political persecution against the lawmaker following his defection to the NDC.
According to the party, Egbetanah was elected into the Delta State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he served as a minority member until Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and several members of the Assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The NDC alleged that following the mass defection, Egbetanah was perceived as a political threat because he was an original APC member and remained loyal to former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
It further claimed that, acting on the directive of the state government, the Assembly withheld the lawmaker’s salaries and other entitlements for several months.
The party said Egbetanah resigned from the APC on April 30, 2026, and joined the NDC, adding that his decision was met with what it described as political vindictiveness and intimidation.
According to the statement, the Assembly subsequently declared his seat vacant and declared him ‘persona non grata’, a move the party described as unprecedented and politically motivated.
“The manner in which his seat was declared vacant is unconstitutional and violates Hon. Egbetanah’s right to freedom of association and assembly,” the statement said.
The NDC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard what it described as an illegal action by the Delta State House of Assembly.
The party also disclosed that it had commenced legal steps to challenge the decision while urging the Assembly to allow Egbetanah to continue performing his constitutional responsibilities as the duly elected representative of the people of Udu Constituency.
Reaffirming its commitment to the people of the constituency, the NDC said it would continue to support effective representation and would resist any attempt to undermine democratic principles through what it described as legislative intimidation.
“The NDC remains committed to ensuring that the people of Udu Constituency continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy through effective representation by Hon. Collins Egbetanah. Our commitment to public service cannot be abridged by any form of legislative rascality,” the statement added.
