The faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaehwule has declared decisions made by the rival four-member Assembly, led by Edison Ehie, as “null and void,” asserting that the lawmakers in the minority are merely holding “family meetings.”
Last week, the four lawmakers from the opposing faction approved the 2024 budget, presented by Governor Similanayi Fubara, within 24 hours of its presentation. Amaehwule, aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, accused Fubara of supervising the demolition of the State House of Assembly, claiming that personal belongings and important documents were trapped inside.
Speaking at a dedication service and stakeholders meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Port Harcourt on Sunday, Amaehwule alleged that the demolition occurred without prior notice, preventing them from removing their belongings and important documents from the complex. He stated that vital documents, files, archives, and personal belongings of lawmakers and staff were destroyed during the demolition.
The factional leader criticized the actions of the governor, emphasizing that the governor had stopped funding the Assembly. Amaehwule highlighted the importance of the Assembly finance management autonomy bill, which, once assented, would grant financial autonomy to the state legislature, ensuring that funding comes directly from the consolidated revenue of the state.
Amaehwule also explained the defection of the 27 members of the Assembly to the APC, citing the crisis in Rivers PDP and praising President Bola Tinubu’s demonstrated love for Rivers State through appointments and projects initiated by the current administration.
Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Joe Johnson, previously stated that the Assembly’s demolition was due to structural defects. The Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, affirmed the party’s commitment to protecting the defected lawmakers and addressing what he described as the wrongs brought about by the current administration.
