The Rivers State House of Assembly has declared the seats of loyalists to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant due to prolonged absence from sittings.
This was announced during the Assembly’s Tuesday plenary led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule.
The affected members include the Chief of Staff to the governor, Edison Ehie (Ahoada East II), Victor Oko Jombo (Bonny), Adolphus Oruibienimigha (Opobo/Nkoro), and Sokari Sokari (Ahoada West).
Th Assembly stated that the decision was made in compliance with Sections 109 (1)(e), (f), and 109 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The motion to declare the seats vacant was moved by Major Jack and co-sponsored by 25 other members.
They stated that the seats of the four members should 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 10th Assembly and for also being absent in the past 56 legislative sittings of the second session.
Speaking on the motion, the Speaker, Amaewhule recalled that after the peace meeting 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 refused to attend sittings of the House.
He stated further that given the fact the Court of Appeal upheld all the injunctive orders given by the Federal High Court, Governor Fubara was again enjoined to present the 2024 Appropriate Bill to the House.
The House voted that the seats of the four members be declared vacant, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, be notified to conduct elections to fill the vacancies.
