Rivers Assembly Factions Disagree Over Vacant Lawmakers’ Seat

The two factions laying claims to the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly have disagreed over the seats of the lawmakers in their respective camps, claiming that the seats of some lawmakers are vacant.

The Hon. Bright Amaewhule-led faction, which is loyal to Barr. Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday declared the seat of Hon. Edison Ehigie, the then-factional speaker vacant.

On the same day, the Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly, equally declared the seats of Amaewhule and 25 other lawmakers vacant, claiming that their seats were declared vacant on December 13, 2024, by the then legitimately recognised Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie.

The drama started when the Amaewhule faction declared the seat of Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff to Governor Simimialayi Fubara vacant, as well as the seat of Oko-Jumbo, citing their prolonged absence from legislative meetings without just cause.

The affected members Ehie (Ahoada East II), Victor Oko Jombo (Bonny), Adolphus Oruibienimigha (Opobo/Nkoro), and Sokari Sokari (Ahoada West), are pro-Siminialayi Fubara lawmakers in the state.

The Amaewhule faction in a statement by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to Amaewhule, the House took the decision was made in compliance with Sections 109 (1)(e), (f), and 109 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The motion to declare their seats vacant was moved by Hon. Major Jack and was co-sponsored by 25 other members, due to their continued absence during legislative duties in the House.

The lawmakers present supported the motion, poked in unison in support of the motion, and subsequently voted that the seats of the four members be declared vacant and that INEC, be notified of the need to conduct elections to fill the vacancies.

In reaction to the action of the Amaewhule-led House, the Oko-Jumbo faction restated its resolve that the seats of Amaewhule and 24 others remain vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and must be filled through a bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Assembly, which said this in a statement signed by its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, in his office on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, explained that the 25 Legislative seats are vacant seats.

He said that the inability of INEC to do the needful since December 13, 2023, has created room for unnecessary distractions from Amaewhule and his committee of friends, and called on the commission to discharge its constitutional responsibilities to the people of the State.

The Speaker said, “Please, recall that on the 11th day of December, 2023, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 24 others defected from the Peoples Democratic Party that sponsored their election into the Rivers State House of Assembly, to the All Progressives Congress. Their defection was headline news and widely reported in print and electronic media.

“On the 13th day of December 2023, the defection by Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others was further cemented in an affidavit deposed to by Martin Chike Amaewhule, when in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, Martin Chike Amaewhule & 26 Ors v. INEC & 5 Ors. in paragraphs 15 thereof, he deposed as follows: ‘That faced with the state of uncertainty and confusion in the 2nd defendant (Peoples Democratic Party) caused by division in the political party, the Plaintiffs were forced by the state of affairs within the 2nd defendant to defect and join the All Progressives Congress (APC).’

“On the 13th day of December, 2023, Rt. Honourable Edison Ogerenye Ehie, as then Speaker, declared the seats of Martin Chike Amaewhule and 24 others in the Rivers State House of Assembly vacant and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-election to fill their vacant legislative seats. This has not been challenged and set aside by any court of law.

“Subsequently, I was elected as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. I and the Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been piloting the affairs of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including passing resolutions and screening various eminent persons as commissioner-nominees and recommending them to His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State to be appointed and sworn-in as Commissioners, among others.”