A new political crisis has erupted in Rivers State, pitting the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the State House of Assembly against lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The clash centers around the declaration of vacant seats and a power struggle between the two groups, each claiming authority over the state’s legislative affairs.
On Tuesday, the faction led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule took a decisive step, declaring the seats of four pro-Fubara lawmakers vacant. The legislators affected include Edison Ehie, the current Chief of Staff to Governor Fubara, and three others. The Amaewhule faction accused them of missing House sittings for a total of 56 days, which led to the decision. Amaewhule emphasized, “Ehie did not properly inform the House of his new position, and as such, his seat is now vacant.”
The declaration came during a plenary session in Port Harcourt, with a motion initiated by House Leader Major Jack and co-sponsored by 25 members. The Assembly’s resolution cited absenteeism, invoking sections of the 1999 Constitution. The statement released by Amaewhule’s media assistant read, “In compliance with the combined provisions Section of 109 (1)(e),(f) and Section 109 (2) of the 1999 Constitution as altered, the Rivers State House of Assembly declared the seats of Hon Edison Ogerenye Ehie, Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo, Hon Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha, and Hon Sokari Goodboy Sokari vacant.”
The move by Amaewhule’s group followed a previous peace effort spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu, which had led the House to withdraw an impeachment notice against Governor Fubara and recall the suspended members. Yet, the pro-Fubara lawmakers failed to attend subsequent sittings, prompting the declaration of vacancies. Amaewhule also noted that the Appeal Court in Abuja recently upheld his leadership of the Assembly, reinforcing their actions.
In response, the faction aligned with Victor Oko-Jumbo, a pro-Fubara leader, rejected the legitimacy of Amaewhule’s faction and its decisions. Oko-Jumbo’s group asserted that Amaewhule and 24 other lawmakers had vacated their seats following their defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023. “They are not members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, not to talk of having the powers to declare vacant the legislative seats of legitimate Assembly members,” Oko-Jumbo stated.
Oko-Jumbo insisted that INEC should have conducted by-elections to fill the 25 vacant seats declared by the Assembly on December 13, 2023, under the leadership of Edison Ehie. He expressed frustration over the electoral commission’s delay, saying, “The inability of INEC to do the needful since December 13, 2023, has created room for unnecessary distractions from Amaewhule and his committee of friends.”
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The rift between the two factions has deepened as both sides contest control of the state’s legislative body. Oko-Jumbo emphasized that he remains the legitimate Speaker, while his faction continues to push for by-elections to fill the contested seats. “Today, the 15th day of October 2024, Martin Chike Amaewhule & 24 others who ceased to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on December 11, 2023, purportedly declared vacant the legislative seats of Rt. Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo and others. They have no such powers. This is an exercise in futility,” he declared.
The ongoing conflict is rooted in a larger power struggle between Governor Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The rivalry between the two has intensified, leading to divisions within the state’s political landscape. As the crisis continues, all eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the next steps in resolving the dispute.
The situation in Rivers State remains tense, with both factions standing firm in their positions. Amaewhule’s group insists on the legitimacy of their decision to declare the seats vacant, while Oko-Jumbo’s camp urges INEC to respect the December 2023 declaration. Meanwhile, the people of Rivers State await a resolution that could bring stability back to the House of Assembly.