The Rivers State House of Assembly Complex is presently being demolished as a result of a protracted political crisis in the state, News About Nigeria reports.
This demolition occurred just a day after the Rivers State High Court named Ehie, a staunch supporter of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Speaker of the House while the case was being decided.
The strained relationship between former Governor Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara further intensified on Monday when 27 lawmakers in the state assembly loyal to Wike out of 32 defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The mass defection of grassroots politicians from the APC and Social Democratic Party (SDP) into the PDP over the weekend was reportedly the cause of this huge defection.
Some of the defectors included the deputy governorship candidate of the SDP in the 2023 election, Patricia Ogbonnaya, and former Ahoada-West Chairman, Karibo Wilson.
The politicians abandoned their former parties to align with the PDP group loyal to Fubara.
In response, the Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie-led Rivers State House of Assembly declared the seats of 25 members who defected to the APC vacant.
The declaration was made on Wednesday morning during a plenary session, in line with Sections 109 (1) (g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Currently, the Ehie-led lawmakers, who remain loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, are conducting their sessions inside the Government House, Port Harcourt.
They are expected to receive the state’s 2024 budget proposal from the governor in this alternative setting.
