The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, has reaffirmed that the legislative seats of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others remain vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This decision was made during a plenary session held in the temporary Hallowed Chamber in Port Harcourt.
The Assembly insisted that the vacant positions must be filled through a bye-election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In addition, the House is taking steps to invoke constitutional measures against the former members for impersonation.
On the agenda was a request from Governor Siminalayi Fubara seeking approval for five Special Advisers, which was read on the House floor. The Governor’s request was supported by compelling reasons emphasizing its importance for the state’s development, leading to unanimous approval from the Assembly.
During the session, Speaker Oko-Jumbo outlined how Amaewhule and the 24 other former members lost their seats. He referenced their defection on December 11, 2023, during the House’s 87th legislative sitting, where they transitioned from the PDP to the APC.
Oko-Jumbo cited Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, stating that as a result of their defection, the then-Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie, officially declared their seats vacant on December 13, 2023, following a court order.
The Speaker expressed disbelief at the reports of the former members conducting an “illegal sitting” of the Assembly. He emphasized that there cannot be two Houses of Assembly in Rivers State or any other state in Nigeria, reaffirming that Amaewhule and his colleagues are no longer recognized as members of the Assembly as per the earlier ruling, which remains unchallenged in a competent court.
He urged the public to disregard the actions of the former members, describing them as misguided and asserting that their attempts to act as legitimate legislators are void. Oko-Jumbo reiterated the call for INEC to expedite the process of conducting bye-elections to fill the vacant seats.
A notable moment of the plenary was a motion put forth by House Leader Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari to invoke Section 99 of the amended Constitution against the 25 former members to address their ongoing impersonation and hold them accountable. The session concluded with the House adjourning until Monday, October 21, 2024.
