Rivers Reps Back Fubara, Insist Pro-Wike Lawmakers Have Lost Seats

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives has reaffirmed its support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, insisting that Martin Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have lost their seats following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers expressed their position during a solidarity visit to the pro-Fubara Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, in Port Harcourt on Monday. The delegation was led by the Leader of the House of Representatives caucus from Rivers State and member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Awaji-Inombek Abiante.

Other members of the delegation included Boma Goodhead (Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency), Boniface Emerengwa (Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency), Anderson Allison Igbiks (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency), and Manuchim Umezurike (Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 1).

Political Crisis Deepens in Rivers State

The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which erupted in October 2023, has resulted in a division between factions loyal to Fubara and Wike. Amaewhule and 26 lawmakers aligned with Wike, while Oko-Jumbo and two others have been recognized as legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Fubara administration.

On December 11, 2023, Amaewhule and his allies announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. However, in subsequent legal proceedings, they denied defecting, insisting they remained in the PDP.

The federal lawmakers criticized Amaewhule and his group for allegedly attempting to conceal their defection, describing their actions as shameful and unfortunate.

Reps Dismiss Senate Caucus Support for Pro-Wike Lawmakers

The Rivers Reps caucus also condemned a recent visit by a pro-Wike Senate caucus, led by Senator Barinada Mpigi, to Amaewhule in Port Harcourt. The Senate caucus had urged Governor Fubara to respect existing court judgments.

In response, Abiante dismissed their stance, accusing them of distorting the facts surrounding Justice James Omotosho’s judgment on the crisis. He maintained that Amaewhule and his colleagues ceased to be lawmakers the moment they announced their defection.

Citing relevant Supreme Court judgments, Abiante argued that under Section 109(1)(g) and Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, any lawmaker who defects to another party automatically loses their seat. He emphasized that the Supreme Court had not overruled this precedent, making it the binding legal position on legislative defections.

Amaewhule, 26 Others No Longer Lawmakers – Reps Caucus

According to Abiante, the legal implication of the December 11 defection is that Amaewhule and his 26 colleagues are no longer members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and are not entitled to participate in its proceedings.

He referenced a past Supreme Court judgment by Justice Walter Onnoghen on a similar case in Plateau State, stating that the Assembly can only carry out legislative functions that do not require a two-thirds majority until the vacant seats are filled through by-elections.

Oko-Jumbo Pledges Commitment to Legislative Duties

Responding, Speaker Oko-Jumbo thanked the caucus for their support, emphasizing that the pro-Fubara lawmakers remain committed to their legislative responsibilities.

“The former 27 lawmakers are gone. We have too much at stake to abandon the ship,” Oko-Jumbo stated. “Governor Fubara is focused on delivering good governance, and we will continue to make laws for the betterment of our people.”

The political crisis in Rivers State remains unresolved, as both factions continue to stake their claims to legitimacy amid ongoing legal battles.