Barely 24 hours after the defection of Senator Joshua Dariye to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the Plateau State Chapter of his former party, the PDP, on Friday condemned his action and demanded that he vacates the seat.

This was disclosed by the PDP State Chairman, Hon. Damishi Sango, while briefing journalists at the party Secretariat in Jos.

Sango said, “The Peoples Democratic Party strongly condemns his (Dariye’s) action and demands that he honourably resigns and vacate the seat of Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District having become a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which he was elected.

“The People’s Democratic Party wishes to categorically state that there is no division or faction in the Party contrary to any insinuations.

“The PDP calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct fresh elections in respect of the seat of Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District.

The maintained that as responsible political party, its duty is to properly enlighten its teeming supporters and the public.

“We wish to state unequivocally that no member of the party, whether in his unit, ward or LGA has defected to the APC.

“For the records, Senator Joshua C. Dariye contested and was elected on the platform of the PDP in the 2015 general election.

“By leaving the PDP, he cannot under the circumstance lawfully and legally retain the seat of Senator representing Plateau Central Senatorial District as his action is clearly in violation of the provisions of Section 68(1) (g) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.”

Sango assured the party supporters, that Senator Dariye’s defection to the APC will not “change, reduce or affect the popularity of the party in the State in anyway.”