By Aaron Ossai
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has strongly condemned what it describes as an act of political vindictiveness, selective justice, and abuse of legislative powers by the Delta State House of Assembly against Hon. Collins Egbetanah, the member representing Udu Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, Osa Director, Esq.
Hon. Egbetanah was said to have been elected into the Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and served as a minority lawmaker until the Governor of Delta State and several members of the House defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
According to the NDC, following the defection, loyalists of the governor allegedly perceived Hon. Egbetanah as a political threat because he was an original member of the APC and remained openly loyal to former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. The party further alleged that, acting on the directives of the state government, the Delta State House of Assembly withheld Hon. Egbetanah’s salaries and other entitlements for several months.
The NDC stated that on April 30, 2026, Hon. Egbetanah resigned from the APC and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). It alleged that his decision was met with political persecution, vindictiveness, and indignity by both the Delta State Government and the House of Assembly.
The party expressed outrage over what it described as an unprecedented decision by the Assembly to declare Hon. Egbetanah’s seat vacant and pronounce him persona non grata. It argued that the action is unconstitutional, politically motivated, and a violation of his constitutional rights to freedom of association and assembly.
The NDC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard what it termed an illegal and politically motivated action by the Delta State House of Assembly.
While affirming its intention to pursue all available legal remedies, the party urged the Assembly to allow Hon. Egbetanah to continue carrying out the constitutional responsibilities entrusted to him by the people of Udu Constituency.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the people of Udu Constituency continue to enjoy effective representation and the dividends of democracy through Hon. Egbetanah, stressing that no act of what it described as legislative intimidation or political persecution should deprive constituents of their elected representative.
