The Rivers State House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo has rejected the attempt by Martin Amaewhule and 24 others to declare his seat and others vacant, calling it an “exercise in futility” and a “joke taken too far”.
The move came after Amaewhule’s faction passed a resolution to declare Oko-Jumbo’s seat and three others vacant due to their absence from legislative sittings, citing relevant sections of the law to back their declaration.
However, Oko-Jumbo in a reaction in a personally signed statement, reiterated that Amaewhule and his colleagues had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023 [1).
He argued that Amaewhule’s defection was widely reported, and he even deposed to an affidavit in Suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, stating that the division within the PDP forced him and others to join the APC.
He added that consequently, the then-Speaker, Rt. Honourable Ehie Ogerente Edison, declared their seats vacant and called for bye-elections to fill the vacant legislative seats.
He asserted that as the current Speaker, he emphasized that Amaewhule and his colleagues have no powers to declare seats vacant, having ceased to be members of the Assembly since December 11, 2023.
Oko-Jumbo, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections to fill the vacant seats declared on December 13, 2023.
He also called on Nigerians and the people of Rivers State to disregard Amaewhule’s actions, stating that they are no longer members of the Assembly and lack the authority to declare seats vacant.
He assured that the Assembly will continue to function normally, passing resolutions and screening commissioner-nominees.