Rivers Assembly throws jab at Fubara’s loyalist and ex-factional speaker, Ehie

As peace gradually returns to the Rivers House of Assembly, the lawmakers have launched a fresh attack on former factional Speaker and loyalist of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Hon. Edison Ehie, saying he was never a Speaker.

Ehie was the Majority Leader of the Assembly before he proclaimed himself as the factional Speaker in the heat of the political crisis that rocked the state for months.

However, with a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu that effectively ended the fued between Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Ehie resigned both as Speaker and member representing Ahaoda East Constituency 11, on December 29, 2023.

The new salvo aimed at Ehie was thrown by the Clerk of the Assembly, Emeka Amadi, in a press statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, where he said Ehie was never elected the Speaker of the Assembly and should not have claimed to have resigned from such office.

“The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to a letter dated 29 December, 2023, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and circulating in the media,” the statement said.

“It was purportedly written and signed by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie DSSRS – member representing Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers State of Assembly wherein he claimed to have resigned from the position of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an office he never occupied.

“I am therefore directed to call on the good people of Rivers State to disregard the false claim in this letter that is intended to mislead the unsuspecting public. Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie DSSRS was never at any time in the life of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected a Speaker.

“The Office of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a creation of the 1999 Constitution (As altered) and should not be ridiculed by any member who swore to preserve it and abide by the Constitution.

“As a matter of fact, on Monday, the 5th day of June, 2023, after the proclamation of the 10 Rivers State House of Assembly by the Governor, and in line with Section 92 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (As altered), I, as the then Acting Clerk of the House, conducted the election that produced Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS, as the Speaker of the 10 Rivers State House of Assembly by the unanimous votes of all other thirty-one (31) members sitting and present.

“It is also imperative to state that, from the 5th day of June, 2023, when he was elected till today, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS, has been performing his duties as the Speaker,” the Clerk said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now