RIVERS ASSEMBLY CRISIS TAKES NEW TWIST, PRO-FUBARA LAWMAKERS ELECT OKO-JUMBO SPEAKER
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The Rivers State House of Assembly member from the Bonny constituency, Victor Oko-Jumbo, was elected as Speaker by certain members of the assembly who support Governor Siminalayi Fubara, adding a completely new dimension to the political situation in the state.
According to the Standing Order of the House, Oko-Jumbo was reportedly elected at 10 a.m. on Wednesday during plenary, making him the new speaker for the full 32-member Assembly.
In the aftermath of the state’s political crisis, Oko-Jumbo was one of the four legislators who remained faithful to Fubara.
Edison Ehie, who had been chosen speaker during the crisis, subsequently resigned from the State Assembly and was named the governor’s chief of staff.
The number of MPs present at the session that elected Oko-Jumbo as speaker remained unclear.
Sergeant-at-Arms David Wariboko, who oversaw the final session of the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly, led Oko-Jumbo to the plenary bearing the original Rivers State House of Assembly mace.
In his acceptance address, Oko-Jumbo expressed gratitude to the members for choosing him to succeed Edison Ehie as Speaker following his departure.
Calling it an exercise in futility, he urged the people, the judiciary, and the executive to ignore any law allegedly passed by the Assembly led by Amaewhule.
“You will agree with me that after the House last sat on the 13th of December, 2023, and adjourned sine dine, there has been an avalanche of legislative rascality perpetrated by the 25 former members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, led by the former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
“These former members, being fully aware of the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Party (APC) on the 11th of December, 2023.
“Consequently, the Rt. Hon. Edison Ogerenye Ehie-led Assembly, on the 13th of December, 2023, wrote to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declaring the seats of the 25 lawmakers vacant in line with Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the CFRN 1999.
“My distinguished colleagues, there are a plethora of cases pending in our courts further to the defection of the former lawmakers,” he said.
“All laws, plenary sessions and actions taken by the illegal House members are hereby declared void and a nullity in the eyes of the law by virtue of the judgment of Lord Denning in the celebrated case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169.” Oko-Jumbo emphasised.
He said, “Furthermore, this House would want to most respectfully urge and call on His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, DSSRS, to desist forthwith from further dealings with the 25 former lawmakers, in whatever guise.
“Those members are merely floating and do not have any landing ground or anywhere to berth their ship since their defection to the All Progressives Congress on the 11th of December, 2023.
“This House is the legally and constitutionally recognised House of Assembly by virtue of the defection of the other members, and is ready to receive correspondences from and work with His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. Distinguished colleagues, let me thank you once again.
“I know I can count on your unalloyed and unwavering support as we work with His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in moving our dear Rivers State forward in promoting the progress and welfare of the State.”
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