Nnamdi Chukwu
VICTOR Oko Jumbo, a factional Speaker of the Rivers State House Of Assembly, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct an election for 27 vacant seats in the state Assembly, pointing out that the only legal impediment has been removed.
Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, Hon Jumbo said that with the striking out of suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, INEC could now go ahead and conduct an election into the ‘vacant seats’. Hon Jumbo had declared the seats vacant following the defection of Hon.Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after their failed attempt to impeach the governor of the state, Sir Siminalaye Fubara GSSRS on the 30th day of October, 2023.
According to Hon Jumbo, to frustrate INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill the vacated seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule & 26 others filed suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 against INEC & 4 others on the 13th day of December, 2023 following their defection on the 11th 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, they did not do anything to diligently prosecute their suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“On Wednesday, the 30th day of October 2024, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others, without any reason, discontinued suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 and it was accordingly struck out.
*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.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media