The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers state Assembly on Tuesday declared the seats of Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and three other pro-Fubara lawmakers vacant.
News About Nigeria reports that the decision, according to the Assembly, follows their absence from sittings for 152 days.
The Rivers State Assembly decision was made known by Speaker Amaewhule during today’s plenary.
Giving reason for the decision to declare their seats vacant, Amaewhule pointed out that Ehie did not properly write to inform the house of his new office, and as such, his seat has been declared vacant.
Speaking on Victor Oko-Jumbo and the two others, the House held three separate votes to declare their seats vacant for absenteeism from sitting for 152 days consecutively without notification or permission.
The absenteeism, according to the Assembly, violates the 1999 constitution.
Following this decision, the Rivers Assembly concluded that they would write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to replace the now vacant seats within 90 days to provide representation for their people.
Speaking on the Governor’s refusal to re-present the state’s 2024 budget, the Assembly noted that they would still give him more time to do so.
They further noted that they would stick to the court judgement which ordered Governor Fubara to re-present the budget to a fuller Rivers Assembly.
Recall that the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja had voided the N800bn budget, which was approved by four members of the Rivers Assembly loyal to Fubara who were led by the then speaker, Edison Ehie.
