Rivers Assembly: Wike’s Loyalists Declare Pro-Fubara Lawmakers’ Seats Vacant

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has declared the seats of Edison Ehie, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s Chief of Staff, and three other pro-Fubara lawmakers vacant due to their absence from Assembly sessions for 152 days.

During today’s plenary, Speaker Martin Amaewhule explained that Edison Ehie failed to officially notify the House of his new role as Chief of Staff, leading to the decision to vacate his seat.

For Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other lawmakers, the Assembly held separate votes to declare their seats vacant for missing 152 consecutive days without permission, a violation of the 1999 constitution.

The House also agreed to notify INEC to organize elections within 90 days to fill the now-vacant seats and ensure representation for their constituencies.

The Assembly granted Governor Fubara another chance to present the 2024 Appropriations Bill after the Appeal Court nullified the N800 billion bill he had previously submitted to a parallel Assembly led by Edison Ehie.