HURIWA Lauds Fubara For Shunning Pro-Wike Law Makers During Budget Presentation

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria HURIWA, has thrown its weight behind the decision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to shun the 27 defected members of the State Assembly in the presentation of the Rivers State 2025 appropriation bill.

This is just as the civil society group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to take steps towards filling the vacancies created by the defection of the Lawmakers.

The Source reports that the 27 pro-Wike legislators in 2024, resigned their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on which platform they were elected as State Assembly members .

On Monday December 30, 2024, Governor Fubara, presented the State’s 2025 fiscal estimate of N 1.188 trillion to the four remaining state legislators led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jombo for consideration and passage.

However, the move drew the ire of the defected House members, who vehemently protested the action of the Governor.

The group led by factional Speaker Martins Amaewfule, on Tuesday, December 31,at its plenary, condemned the Governor’s action, as smacking of gross disregard for law and order.

But in a statement on Wednesday January 1, 2025 by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA , hailed Governor Fubara for standing firm behind constitutionalism ,as well as protecting the interests of the people.

The group condemned the 27 defected legislators for protesting against the decision of the Governor to present the budget estimate to the Oko-Jombo led House of Assembly.

The human rights body described the action of the 27 Lawmakers as totally misplaced, insisting that they all lost their seats the very moment they defected to the rival All Progressive Congress APC in 2023.

According to HURIWA, going by the provisions of section 109 (1)(g ) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,1999 ( as amended ) the 27 legislators are automatically deemed to have lost their seats following their resignation from the PDP that sponsored their  elections.

“The Rivers State High Court presided over by Hon Justice Charles Wali had earlier affirmed this position in its ruling in May 2024.

“The Court declared the seats of the defected Lawmakers vacant and issued an injunction restraining them from parading themselves as members of the House or conducting any legislative activities.

“This decision effectively nullified attempts by the defected law makers to regain control of the Rivers State House of Assembly”, Onwubiko stated .

Consequently, HURIWA lauded the Governor for being bold and courageous enough to stand in defence of the law, and for refusing to be cowed.

The group expressed deep concern over the decision of the defected legislators to still want to control the State’s legislative body even after officially defecting to the APC .

HURIWA, therefore, called on INEC to conduct by-elections to immediately fill the vacancies created by the exit of the 27 House members.

“INEC must act swiftly to restore full representation to the affected constituencies by ensuring that democratic processes are upheld”, the group noted.