Reps caucus wants Imo lawmaker disciplined for ‘taking sides in Rivers crisis’

The Rivers caucus in the house of representatives has asked the lower legislative chamber to discipline Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member representing Ideato federal constituency of Imo.

Ugochinyere, who chairs the house of representatives committee on petroleum resources (downstream), has been holding press conferences on the political crisis in Rivers.

He has also expressed solidarity with Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor.

On Tuesday, the lawmaker, while speaking on the local government crisis in Rivers, claimed that the former chairpersons of the LGAs plotted to obtain a court order to remain in office.

However, in a statement issued on Friday, Dumnamene Dekor, leader of the caucus, said that by taking sides in the political crisis in Rivers, Ugochinyere has thrown away the “caution and decorum” expected from a legislator.

Dekor said Ugochinyere’s comments on the Rivers political crisis are “characterised“ by “misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda”.

“To begin with, he is not from Rivers state. So, his political value is unquestionably nonexistent, except for those who are naive enough to fall for his cheap gimmicks,” the statement reads.

“The current situation in Rivers State does not concern Hon. Ugochinyere in any way because he is from Imo State, a state that is grappling with myriad political and social issues of its own in respect of which Hon. Ugochinyere cannot find his voice.

“The disagreement in Rivers has never been brought to the floor of the House of Representatives to warrant other members’ intervention in a debate.”

The caucus said Ugochinyere’s actions “impinge on the privileges” of members from Rivers state.

The Rivers lawmakers asked the leadership of the house of representatives to “take urgent steps to discipline” Ugochinyere.

On Thursday, the Coalition for Good Governance in Rivers asked Ugochinyere to refrain from taking sides in the political crisis in the south-south state.

Rivers is engulfed in a political crisis over the tenure of the local government chairpersons.

The state house of assembly membership is also a subject of litigation.