Rivers Assembly Declares Seats of Fubara Allies Vacant Amid Legislative Absence

Loyalists of former Governor Wike lead the charge to declare seats vacant for pro-Fubara lawmakers over prolonged absenteeism

The Rivers Assembly has taken decisive action by declaring the seats of several pro-Fubara lawmakers vacant. The move, led by the Assembly Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, saw the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Edison Ehie, among others, lose their seats. This decision came after these lawmakers were absent from legislative sessions for a continuous 152 days. According to Amaewhule, Rivers Assembly declares seats vacant due to non-compliance with constitutional obligations, marking a significant turn in the ongoing political tensions in the state.

During a plenary session, Speaker Amaewhule emphasized that Ehie failed to properly notify the House of his new role as Chief of Staff, leading to the vacant seat declaration. The Rivers Assembly declares seats vacant as lawmakers must follow due process in communicating any role transitions. In a similar manner, Victor Oko-Jumbo and two other legislators faced the same fate. The Assembly held individual votes to confirm the vacancy of their seats, attributing the decision to absenteeism exceeding the 152-day threshold stipulated by the 1999 Constitution.

The Rivers Assembly further resolved to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections for the now-vacant seats. This move aims to restore representation for the affected constituencies within 90 days. Rivers Assembly declares seats vacant to maintain legislative functionality and uphold the rule of law in the face of absenteeism.

In an additional development, the Assembly extended an opportunity to Governor Fubara to re-present the 2024 Appropriations Bill. The decision follows the Appeal Court’s nullification of the N800 billion budget, previously presented to a parallel House session headed by the now-ousted Edison Ehie. The Rivers Assembly declares seats vacant in a context where political rivalry has impacted the legislative process, with ongoing efforts to stabilize governance in the state.