The Rivers house of assembly says there are no change in the leadership of the state legislature.
Emeka Amadi, clerk of the house of assembly, in a statement said Martin Amaewhule is the recognised speaker of the assembly.
On Wednesday, Victor Jumbo, the lawmaker representing the Bonny constituency, was elected as speaker by the lawmakers loyal to Fubara.
On Thursday, Martin Amaewhule, a factional speaker of the assembly, alleged that the governor is planning to demolish the assembly quarters.
The comment was made following the visit of the governor to the assembly quarters on Thursday.
Amaewhule while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Thursday, said the assembly quarters do not require any form of renovation.
But the Rivers governor said he came to the assembly quarters to see if there would be some work to be carried out there after the election of a new speaker.
The lawmakers maintained that there was no change in leadership structure of the house as Martin Amaewhule, Dumle Maol, and Major Jack remain speaker, deputy speaker, and majority leader respectively.
“The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to reports in the electronic and print media that there was a leadership change in the Rivers State House of Assembly today, the 8th day of May 2024. As the Clerk of the Rivers State House and one who administered the Oath of membership and office to all members and a custodian of all records of the House, I write to state the following,” the statement reads.
“That there was no change in the leadership of the House today and Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS remains the Speaker of the House while Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol DSSRS and Hon. Major Jack DSSRS remains Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader respectively.
“That apart from the seat of Khana Constituency Il which was declared vacant because of death of the member who represented the constituency, no other seat has been declared vacant.
“That there is a subsisting judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction in Suit no FHC/ABI/CS/1613/2023 in which the Court among other orders “granted an ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Governor of Rivers State (11th Defendant) whether by himself or by his agents and or hirelings or in any manner howsoever from impeding or frustrating the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the 2nd Plaintiff as the Speaker of the said House in the performance of their functions including holding of meetings and the transacting of the business of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“That Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Adolphus Orubimie Timothy were suspended on the 30th of October 2023 pursuant to the Rules of the House and their suspension is yet to be liftedand they cannot lay claim to be officers of the House.
“That the House is still conducting legislative business in line with the Standing Orders of the House and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered.
“That the good people of Rivers State and the Nigerian Federation should discountenance any media report purporting any recent change in leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
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