Drama as Rivers Assembly declares pro-Fubara lawmakers’ seats vacant

The Rivers State House of Assembly, headed by Martin Amaewhule, has announced that the seats of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, along with three other pro-Fubara lawmakers, are vacant due to their absence from sessions for 152 days.

During today’s plenary session, Speaker Martin Amaewhule announced that Edison Ehie’s seat has been declared vacant because he failed to properly notify the House about his new position.

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.

The Assembly further agreed to write to INEC to conduct elections to replace the now vacant seats within 90 days to provide representation for their people.

Also, the house 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.