The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Ehie Ogerenye Edison, loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has formally communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about 25 vacant seats in the State House of Assembly, prompting a request for a bye-election.
Dated 14 December 2023, the letter titled “NOTICE OF VACANCIES IN THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PURSUANT TO SECTION 109(1)(G) AND (2) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA 1999 (AS AMENDED) AND REQUEST FOR CONDUCT OF FRESH ELECTIONS IN THE 25 STATE CONSTITUENCIES IN THE RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY” details the defection of members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 11th December 2023.
The letter reads, “Consequently, I write on behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly to kindly request for a bye-election to be conducted to fill the vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
Last week, 27 lawmakers, including Martins Amaewhule, defected to the APC, prompting Fubara’s loyalists to declare their seats vacant. The factional divide allegedly reflects a power struggle between Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike.
Amidst this political turmoil, the State High Court in Port Harcourt granted an order allowing Fubara-backed legislators to conduct legislative business without interference. Simultaneously, the state government ordered the demolition of the assembly complex, citing structural concerns. The developments underscore the intense political rivalry shaping the state’s political landscape.
