Rights Group, the Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD)has faulted the
purported Resignation of Rt Hon. Ehie Edison as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, on December 29 2023,,saying it is a Nullity and unknown to 1999 Nigerian Constitution.as amended
This as the group insists that Edison was never at any time in the current session of the Rivers State House of Assembly, elected by majority of the 32 or 31 members of the Assembly as their Speaker.
According to a statement by Comrade Emmanuel Odafe Igbini, Executive Director, VATLAND, his claim to the position of Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly and his deliberate use of it in writing the letter addressed to INEC Chairman, is sadly a Joke and Mockery of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, and Democracy, taken too far..
HE WAS NEVER AND MUST NEVER BE ADDRESSED AND OR TREATED AS FORMER SPEAKER OF RIVERS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, Igbini said..
“It is however important for me to state unambiguously, that his resignation as member of the Rivers State House of Assembly is valid and within his Constitutional right to exercise which he has done. He can therefore be rightly addressed and treated as former member of Rivers State House of Assembly who I would proudly say, rose patriotically and rightly to prevent the unconstitutional attempt by 27 of his Colleagues to commence a process of impeaching Gov. Fubara for no iota of justified “Gross Misconduct” as Governor. I commend him!
“I must also appreciate the fact that this decision that he resigns from the House of Assembly is part of implementation of the peaceful resolution of the Political Misunderstanding between Gov. Fubara and former Gov. Wike, which was made possible by the fatherly Intervention of President Tinubu.
“i wish my beloved Bro, Rt Hon. Edison Ehie, well and success in his new Appointment as Chief of Staff to Gov. Fubara.
Igbini who restated his earlier position in the Press Statement issued on December 20, 2023 on the unfortunate misunderstanding between Gov. Fubara and fmr Gov. Wike,indicated that :
there has not been any constitutionally convened Sitting of the Rivers State House of Assembly since October 29, 2023 after the attack on the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly and till date..
“The implication of this is that all actions, pronouncements, Defections, Budget Presentation by Gov. Fubara and others, by the 31 Legislators, either together or as 27 or 4 Factions, are unknown to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, and by express provision of section 1(3) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, are all null and void and of no moment, whatsoever. The Status and Actions of the House of Assembly remain only as they were before October 29, 2023.
He added that Rt Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule and Rt Hon. Dumle Maol remain the constitutionally elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, of Rivers State House of Assembly, under the platform of PDP and they so remain members of PDP until anytime the House of Assembly is constitutionally convened and any decision to defect, is announced in strict accordance with the Standing Rules of the House.
