NDC kicks as Delta Assembly declared member’s seat vacant

By Jude Opara

The national leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken a swipe at the Delta state House of Assembly over the alleged discrimination against its member, Hon. Collins Egbetanah who represents Udu constituency of the state.

National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of the NDC, Osa Director in a statement on Monday said the party is against the efforts of the Delta state House of Assembly and the state government to sack the embattled Egbetanah, simply because he defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition NDC.

Director said in a civilized society, there should be no room for what he described as politics of vindictiveness and selective justice.

According to Director, the member is being punished by the state because he not only left the APC, but also a strong loyalist of the former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, who equally has now joined the NDC.

“Hon. Egbetanah was elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He was a minority member of the house until the Governor of Delta state and several members of the Delta state house of Assembly decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join him in the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“However, those who decamped as loyalists of the governor began to see Hon Egbetanah as a threat, being an original member of APC, and also because of his avowed loyalty to the former Deputy President of Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege. Consequently, for several months the Delta state house of Assembly, acting on the directive of the Delta state government, deprived Hon. Egbetanah of his salaries and entitlements.

“On the 30th of April, 2026 Hon. Egbetanah resigned his membership of the APC and joined the NDC . His resignation was met with vindictiveness, political callousness and indignity by the Delta state house of Assembly and government.

“In a politically unprecedented move, the Delta state house of Assembly purportedly declared his seat vacant and declared him a persona non grata. We, at the NDC view this action as politically abominable and reprehensible. The manner in which his seat was declared vacant is unconstitutional and violates Egbetanah’s right to free assembly and association.

The NDC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the purported removal of Egbetanah, insisting it was only an act of illegality and political gangsterism.

“We are hereby calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to disregard the act of illegality and political gangsterism by the Delta state house of Assembly”.

The statement while stating that it will take every legal step to resolve the matter, also urged the Delta state House of Assembly to allow Hon. Egbetanah performed his constitutional duties for which he was elected to do by the people of his Udu constituency.