Rivers speaker asks INEC to conduct bye-election to fill seats of pro-Wike lawmakers

Victor Oko-Jumbo, speaker of the faction of the Rivers state house of assembly loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state, has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections to fill the seats of the lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike.

The Rivers assembly has been polarised since 2023, following the rift between Fubara, and Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

In December 2023, 27 members of the assembly defected from the PDP to the APC.

Ehie Edison, loyal to Fubara, was elected speaker of the factional assembly after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule amid the plot to impeach Fubara. Amaewhule is loyal to Wike.

Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor.

In June, a high court in Rivers refused to declare seats of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers vacant.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Oko-Jumbo said since Amaewhule secured the injunction he and the 26 others lawmakers are not doing “anything to diligently prosecute their suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja”.

“On Wednesday, the 30th day of October, 2024, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others, without any reason, discontinued Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 and it was accordingly struck out,” he said.

“The only impediment to INEC conducting a bye election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly was the order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining INEC from conducting a bye election.

“Now that Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 has been struck out, the order of interlocutory injunction is also spent.

“Accordingly, as the Rt. Honourable speaker of the Rivers state house of assembly I call on INEC to forthwith conduct a bye election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers state house of assembly.”