….Declare Seats Of Four Pro-Fubara Members Vacant
The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has declared the seats of four members vacant, citing their prolonged absence from legislative meetings without just cause.
The affected members are Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie (Ahoada East II), Hon. Victor Oko Jombo (Bonny), Hon. Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha (Opobo/Nkoro), and Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari (Ahoada West).
The motion to declare the seats vacant was moved by House Leader Hon. Major Jack and co-sponsored by 25 other members.
The Lawmakers during plenary on Tuesday said the decision was made in compliance with Sections 109 (1)(e), (f), and 109 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
However, the Assembly’s action comes on the heels of controversy surrounding Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s 2024 Appropriation Bill.
Previously, the governor had presented the N800 billion budget to only four out of 31 members of the Assembly, sparking legal challenges.
Major Jack and co-sponsored by 25 other Members, moved that the seats of the four Members be declared vacant for their continued refusal or failure to attend and participate in Legislative meetings of the House, without just cause for a period amounting in aggregate, to more than one-third of the total number of days the House met in the First Session of the Tenth Assembly and for also being absent in the past fifty -six legislative sittings of the Second Session.
Debating the Motion, Members spoke in unison in support of the Motion, and sympathized with the constituents of those Constituencies whose voices have been drowned in the House for about one year because of the abdication of legislative duties by their representatives.
Commenting on the Motion, the Speaker, Amaewhule, recalled that after the peace parley that was held at the instance of the President, the House withdrew its impeachment notice on the Governor and also recalled the four suspended Members, yet they have obstinately refused to attend sittings of the House.
When the Speaker put the question, the House voted in the affirmative that the seats of the 4 Members be declared vacant, and the Independent National Electoral Commission be notified to conduct elections to fill the vacancies.
Amaewhule reiterated that given the fact the Court of Appeal upheld all the injunctive orders given by the Federal High Court, Governor Siminialayi Fubara is again enjoined to present the 2024 Appropriate Bill to the House.
Earlier, the Leader of the House, Hon. Major Jack had under statement by the Leader, informed the House that he was in receipt of the Judgement of the Court of Appeal which upheld the judgement of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court which recognized the authenticity of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the Speakership of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, which was appealed against by Governor Fubara.
The Leader, laid the document on the table and was received and adopted by the House as a working document.
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