The spokesperson of the G60 group of federal lawmakers in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has stated that Governor Siminialayi Fubara of Rivers State has the constitutional power to sustain the government through executive orders until new lawmakers are elected.
Ugochinyere’s statement follows the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly, where 27 lawmakers lost their legitimacy after defecting to another political party.
Ugochinyere emphasized that the Governor’s executive orders are necessary to maintain the smooth running of the government and uphold the constitution amidst a possible breakdown of law and order. He mentioned that the Governor has the authority to proscribe the activities of the imposters who claim to be lawmakers after their seats were declared vacant.
He explained that any laws made by the group of 27 individuals impersonating lawmakers are illegitimate and cannot be enforced, as they are not part of a legitimate House of Assembly. Ugochinyere suggested that Governor Fubara could use executive orders to address the current legislative vacuum and continue running the government with existing valid laws.
“The Governor should issue executive orders in view of the 27 members’ decampment and seats being declared vacant,” Ugochinyere said. “Issue recognition to the remaining lawmakers to continue piloting the affairs of the House pending when INEC conducts elections to fill the vacancies. The LGA laws, procurement laws being compromised by the 27 imposters can’t stand, and the Governor has the power to continue running the government using existing valid laws.”
Ugochinyere also recommended that the Edison-led House should present an acting speaker to ensure legislative continuity and maintain democratic balance while awaiting the election of a new speaker. He added that the 27 decamped lawmakers must be used as examples to discourage further constitutional abuse by cross-carpeting lawmakers.
“The vacant positions can be filled by creating new titles or names for such positions, and executive orders can be used to announce the new occupant in view of the 27 seats declared vacant,” Ugochinyere added. “The group of four lawmakers who remain can move in and give all needed approval as the law recognizes them. The laws made by the imposters can’t stand.”
