The factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, has written to formally notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the existence of 25 vacant seats and ask the electoral body to commence the conduct of a fresh election.

The speaker, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, signed the letter, requesting INEC to conduct fresh elections to fill the vacant seats.

The letter surfaced on the same day that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, were officially received by the State’s All Progressives Congress APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, Tony Okocha and representatives of the National Executive Council of the party in Port Harcourt.

Twenty-seven lawmakers led by Amaewhule had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).

The letter also directed the Accountant General of the Federation to give effect to the resolution of the house and suspend the payment of their salaries and other emoluments due to the former lawmakers.