The Rivers State House of Assembly faces a new crisis as factions clash over the declaration of vacant seats amid political turmoil.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, is engulfed in a renewed crisis as factions aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara clash over the legitimacy of legislative seats.
On Tuesday, the Amaewhule faction declared the seats of four lawmakers loyal to Fubara vacant, igniting tensions within the assembly.
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This contentious declaration follows a recent ruling by the Appeal Court in Abuja, which affirmed the legality of the Amaewhule leadership.
In a sharp rebuttal, the pro-Fubara faction, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, contended that Amaewhule and his group have forfeited their status as lawmakers in the state.
They have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct by-elections to fill the declared vacant seats.
The dispute arises amid an ongoing power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant include Edison Ehie, currently serving as Chief of Staff to the Governor, alongside three others, who were absent from legislative sittings for 56 consecutive days.
During a plenary session in Port Harcourt, Amaewhule stated that Ehie failed to formally inform the House of his new position, leading to the decision to declare his seat vacant.
The resolution, which was adopted after a motion by House Leader Major Jack and supported by 25 members, cited the lawmakers’ persistent absence as justification for the action.
According to a statement issued by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, the House’s decision complied with Sections 109(1)(e) and (f) of the 1999 Constitution.
It declared vacant the seats of Hon Edison Ogerenye Ehie, Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, Hon Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha, and Hon Sokari Goodboy Sokari, who represent Ahoada East II, Bonny, Opobo/Nkoro, and Ahoada West Constituencies, respectively.
Amaewhule noted that following a peace parley instigated by President Bola Tinubu, the House had previously withdrawn its impeachment notice against the governor and reinstated the four suspended members. However, despite these efforts, the absent lawmakers continued to neglect their legislative duties.
In response, the Oko-Jumbo faction maintained that Amaewhule and 24 others had vacated their seats following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oko-Jumbo stated that the previous Speaker, Ehie, had declared their seats vacant on December 13, 2023, and urged INEC to facilitate the by-elections to fill the positions.
Oko-Jumbo further accused INEC of procrastinating on the by-elections, suggesting that the delay has allowed for distractions from Amaewhule’s faction.
He reiterated that the seats vacated by Amaewhule and others should not be used as a basis for declaring the seats of the remaining members vacant.
As the crisis continues, Oko-Jumbo called for immediate action from INEC, emphasising the need for the electoral body to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities to the people of Rivers State.
He dismissed Amaewhule’s claims as baseless, insisting that the latter’s faction lacks the authority to declare the seats of legitimately elected members vacant.
This political turmoil in the Rivers State House of Assembly highlights the ongoing struggles for power and control within the state’s political landscape, with significant implications for governance and legislative effectiveness.
