Rivers Assembly ‘legally’ reduced to 3-member House with exit of Ehie – Lawyers

Constitutional lawyer Professor Wokocha warns of legal implications of foisting 27 defected lawmakers on Rivers State

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

A professor of law and constitutional lawyer, Richard Wokocha, has cautioned that the resignation of Edison Ehie, the factional Speaker loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a member of Rivers Assembly does not in any way confer legitimacy on the Martin Amaewhule -led lawmakers

Speaking at a live radio programme in Nigeria info FM Port Harcourt monitored by our correspondent, Professor Richard Wokocha said the resignation of Edison Ehie as member of the Rivers State House of Assembly does not change the status quo of the House.

Wokocha, a Lecturer at the Department of Public Law at Rivers State University said, “The resignation of Edison Ehie leaves only three members of the House and does not confer legitimacy on the 27 members led by Martin Amaewhule who have defected to All Progressives Congress, APC.”

He pointed out that it is the responsibility of the rest three members of the House to pick their new Speaker or Leader whenever they meet as provided in the constitution.

“Legally, it is now a three-member House of Assembly with 28 people having resigned. It is now their responsibility to pick the leadership when they meet.
Apparently, it points to the direction that they are about to foist the illegality on the State. That will raise questions on the validity of action that House (27 members) take for the State”.

Also speaking in the radio programme, another human rights lawyer, Charles Jaja, said the resignation of Edison Ehie as member representing Ahoada East Constituency 2 from the Rivers State House of Assembly will make Governor Siminalayi Fubara vulnerable to those who do not mean well for the State.

Another lawyer, Courage Nsirimovu, criticized the Abuja peace agreement as unlawful and unconstitutional. He said it amounts to handing over the governance of the State to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory without regard to the aspirations of Rivers people.

Our Correspondent reports that despite the resignation of Edison Ehie as member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, he was among prominent personalities who accompanied Governor Fubara to Crossover service at the St Paul’s Anglican Archdeacon Parish Opobo Opobo Nkoro local government area of Rivers State on new year’s eve.

Edison Ehie had in a resignation letter dated 27 December addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission said he is no longer a member of Rivers State House of Assembly representing the Ahoada East Constituency 2.