The speaker of the pro-Fubara lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to carry out the necessary bye-election to fill the seats of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule.
During a press conference on Friday, Oko-Jumbo emphasized that Amaewhule and the other 26 lawmakers legally vacated their positions when they announced their defection on the floor of the house in December 2023.
He noted that the renewed call for the bye-election is crucial now that the legal obstacles preventing INEC from conducting it have been resolved.
Oko-Jumbo pointed out that it is widely known that the pro-Wike lawmakers voluntarily defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on December 11, 2023, without any justifiable reason.
He said: “To frustrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a bye-election to fill the vacated seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule & 26 others filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 against INEC & 4 others on the 13th day of December, 2023.
“Subsequently, an order of interlocutory injunction was secured, restraining INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“After filing the said suit and securing the order of interlocutory injunction, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others began to foot-drag, and did not do anything to diligently prosecute their suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
He highlighted the pointlessness of the legal suit that Amaewhule and the other 26 lawmakers pursued, which they effectively used as a means to delay necessary actions.
Oko-Jumbo explained that on Wednesday, Martin Amaewhule and the 26 others abruptly discontinued Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, leading to its dismissal.
He stated: “The only barrier preventing INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly was the order of interlocutory injunction that restrained INEC from proceeding with the bye-election.
“Now that Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 has been struck out, the order of Interlocutory Injunction is no longer in effect.”
“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.”