Rivers Assembly declares Pro-Fubara lawmakers seat vacant

Rivers assembly has declared pro-Fubara lawmakers seat vacant, and has decided to write to the independent electoral commission (INEC) to conduct elections for the vacant seats within 90 days.

The decision was agreed today during a plenary session, led by speaker of the house, Martin Amaewhule.

The affected members are Edison Ehie, currently Chief of Staff Government House; Victor Oko-Jumbo, current factional speaker of the Assembly; Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada East II, Bonny, Opobo/Nkoro, and Ahoada West Constituency, respectively.

Amaewhule pointed out that Ehie did not properly write to inform the house of his new office, and as such his seat has been declared vacant.

Regarding Victor Oko-Jumbo and the two others, the House held three separate votes to declare their seats vacant for absenteeism from sitting for 152 days consecutively without notification or permission, in violation of the 1999 constitution.

A press statement by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to Amaewhule, added that the assembly further agreed to write to INEC to conduct elections to replace the vacant seats within 90 days to provide representation for their people.

“Debating the motion, members spoke in unison in support of the motion and sympathised with those constituencies whose voices have been drowned in the House for about one year because of the abdication of legislative duties by their representatives,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the house also agreed to give Governor Fubara another opportunity to present the 2024 Appropriations Bill following the nullification by the Appeal Court of the N800bn bill, which he had presented to a parallel House led by Edison Ehie.

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“Rt. Hon. Amaewhule reiterated that given the fact the Court of Appeal upheld all the injunctive orders given by the Federal High Court, Governor Siminialayi Fubara is again enjoined to present the 2024 Appropriate Bill to the House”. The statement added.