Gov Fubara Presents 2024 Budget to 5 Members, House of Assembly Declares 27 Seats Vacant

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the state House of Assembly within the Government House, Port Harcourt.

At the presentation of the budget only the five lawmakers loyal to the governor were present.

The budget presentation came barely one hour after the government demolished the state House of Assembly which the government described as being “unsafe” for lawmakers.

In a related development, the House has also declared the seats of the 27 members who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant.

Recall that 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, defected from the PDP citing “confusion and division” in the party as their reason for leaving the party on which platform they were elected into the state parliament.

The five -member Assembly, led by factional Speaker, Hon. Edison Ehie, who are loyalists of Governor Fubara said that the decision to declare the seats vacant was in line with Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

Hon. Ehie read the names of the lawmakers affected, and subsequently called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections within the time frame provided by law to fill the positions.

“Distinguished colleagues, the House will duly inform the Independent National Electoral Commission of the vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and indeed, to conduct a fresh election to fill the above vacancies,” he declared.