Rivers Speaker Urges INEC To Conduct Bye-Election For Vacant Assembly Seats

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, who leads the pro-Fubara faction of lawmakers, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a bye-election.

Oko-Jumbo wants the election to fill the seats of 27 legislators who vacated their positions after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Oko-Jumbo emphasized that the legal constraints preventing INEC from conducting the bye-election had been lifted and that the matter now rests with the electoral commission to restore representation for the affected constituencies.

This call for a bye-election comes as the Rivers State Assembly remains divided following political shifts within the state. Oko-Jumbo reiterated the need for timely action to fill these legislative seats, ensuring full representation for the people of Rivers State.

Oko-Jumbo emphasized that: “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 pointed to the futility of that legal suit that Amaewhule and the 26 others pursued, which they used, invariably, as a cover to delay what must necessarily be done.

Oko-Jumbo clarified that on Wednesday, 30th October 2024, Martin Amaewhule and 26 others, without any reason, discontinued Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, and it was struck out accordingly.

He declared: “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.”