Your Highness. The Martin Amayuru-led faction in the Rivers State House of Assembly has declared four members of the House of Representatives vacant in violation of the 1999 Constitution’s provisions on abstention from plenary sessions.
The affected member is Edison Ehie, who is currently the Chief of Staff. Victor Oko-Jumbo, the current parliamentary faction chairman. Adolphus Timothy Oluibienimiga. Sokari Goodboy Sokari represent Ahoada East Second Constituency, Bonny Constituency, Obobo/Nkoro Constituency and Ahoada West Constituency respectively.
Mr. Ehie briefly served as the faction chairman of the Rivers House of Assembly, a group comprising Mr. Amawfulu and 26 other members who have now announced a controversial defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is also the person who declared the seat vacant. ).
Announcing Parliament’s action in plenary session on Tuesday, Mr Amaeful said Parliament relied on the combined provisions of Articles 109(1)(e), (f) and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. He said that
Regarding the positions of Victor Oko-Jumbo and two others, the House of Representatives voted three separate times to declare them absent for 152 consecutive days of absence without notice or permission, in violation of the 1999 Constitution. .
A press statement by Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to Mr. Ameifule, further stated that Parliament will write to INEC to hold elections within 90 days to fill the vacant seats to provide representation to the people. He added that he agreed.
The statement said the motion for parliamentary action was moved by House Majority Leader Hong Johnson. Major Jacques, jointly sponsored by 25 other Members, for their continued refusal or failure to attend and participate in the legislative sessions of the House of Representatives without justifiable cause, for an aggregate period of , the seats of these four members will be declared vacant less than one-third of the total number of days the House met in the first session of the 10th Congress, and fewer than the previous 56 days in the second session. He was also absent from Congress.
“During the consideration of the motion, members spoke in unison to express support for the motion and sympathize with constituents whose voices have been drowned out in the House of Commons for nearly a year due to the dereliction of their legislative duties,” the statement added. .
The statement continued: “Representative of the House of Representatives, Rt. Martin Chike Amaefuru said that after the peace rally held in the presence of the President, the House of Representatives withdrew the impeachment notice against the governor and also recalled the four suspended members. recalled that he stubbornly refused to attend House proceedings.
“When questioned by the Speaker, the House voted in favor of declaring the seats of four members vacant and notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission to hold elections to fill the vacancies.
“Rt. Sir, Mr. Amaeful said that in light of the fact that the Court of Appeal has upheld all the injunctions issued by the Federal High Court, Governor Siminiarai Hubala is once again ordered to table the appropriate bill in 2024 in the House of Representatives. repeated.
“Earlier, Mr. Speaker, Your Excellency, Major Jack informed the House that we are receiving the judgment of the Court of Appeal upholding the judgment of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court which recognized the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly under the Chairmanship of the Rt. Sir Martin Amaewhule was appealed by Governor Fubara.
