Rivers State House of Assembly Announces Vacancies for Four Lawmakers Supporting Fubara

The Rivers State House of Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has declared the seats of Edison Ehie, Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and three other lawmakers who support the governor, vacant.continue Reading>>>

The decision was made due to their prolonged absence from legislative sessions for 152 consecutive days. Amaewhule noted that Ehie did not properly inform the Assembly about his new role, leading to the vacancy of his seat.

In separate votes, the Assembly also declared the seats of Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other lawmakers vacant. Their continuous absence from the House without prior notification or permission violated the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates regular attendance at legislative sessions.

Following these decisions, the House resolved to inform the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize elections within 90 days to fill the now-vacant positions, ensuring that the constituencies affected by the absences have proper representation in the Assembly.continue Reading>>>

Additionally, the House gave Governor Fubara the opportunity to resubmit the 2024 Appropriations Bill after the Appeal Court nullified the ₦800 billion budget he had previously presented to a rival House led by Edison Ehie. This decision highlights the ongoing political tensions within the Rivers State Assembly and raises concerns about the future of governance and representation in the state.