The Victor Oko-Jumbo led Rivers State House of Assembly has reiterated its stance that the legislative seats of court-backed Martin Amaewhule and 24 others remain vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decision was made during a plenary session at the temporary Hallowed Chamber in Port Harcourt.
The Assembly maintained that the vacant seats must be filled through a bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Additionally, the House initiated moves to invoke constitutional provisions against former Assembly members for impersonation.
Also on the day’s schedule for business was the request for approval of five Specials Advisers as contained in a letter addressed to the Speaker by the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, which was read on the floor of the House, just as compelling reasons for the approval was made, highlighting its significance for the state’s development, which eventually earned the unanimous approval of the Assembly.
In his remark, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Oko-Jumbo gave the background of how his predecessor, Hon Martin Amaewhule and 24 other former members lost their seats in the house.
He said, “On the 11th Day of December, 2023, at the 87th Legislative sitting of the House, former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and the 24 former members defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
He further informed that “By virtue of Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which are self executing, and consequent upon their defection, on the 13th Day of December, 2023, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, as the then duly recognised Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, by virtue of a court order granted by Hon Justice Danagogo on the 12th Day of December, 2023, in Suit No. PHC/3030/CS/2023, and pursuant to Section 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, declared their seats vacant.”
According to Oko-Jumbo, it was laughable to have heard and seen the news of the illegal sitting of the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule on television screens and social media space.
The Speaker warned that there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or in any State of Nigeria, adding that Amaewhule and his team in spite of all their pretences are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the earlier declaration by the Rt. Hon. Ehie Edison which has not been vacated by any Court of competent jurisdiction.
He urged public to disregard and ignore the misguided former members, hinting that their illegal actions amounts to nullity, just as he reiterated his call on INEC to expedite actions for the conduct of bye-election to fill the vacant seats.
Highpoint of the day’s plenary was the motion by the Leader of the House, Hon Sokari Goodboy Sokari to invoke the provisions of section 99 of the amended constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against the 25 former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly towards addressing their continous criminal impersonation with a view to bring them to book.
Thereafter, the House adjourned sitting to Monday, October 21, 2024.
