Oko-Jumbo Insists INEC Conducts Bye-Election To Replace Pro-Wike Lawmakers

The Speaker of the pro-Fubara Lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the requisite bye-election to fill the seats of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule.

Oko-Jumbo insisted during a press conference on Friday that Amaewhule and 26 others legally vacated their seats when they duly announced their defection on the floor of the house in December 2023.

He said the renewed call became pertinent since the legal impediment stopping INEC hitherto, from conducting the bye-election, has been removed.

He said it is common public knowledge that the pro-Wike lawmakers, on their own accord, defected on the 11th day of December 2023, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), without any justifiable cause.

Oko-Jumbo emphasised that: “To frustrate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting a bye-election to fill the vacated seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Chike Amaewhule & 26 others filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 against INEC & 4 others on the 13th day of December, 2023.

“Subsequently, an order of Interlocutory Injunction was secured, restraining INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“After filing the said suit and securing the order of Interlocutory Injunction, Martin Chike Amaewhule and 26 others began to foot-drag, and did not do anything to diligently prosecute their suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

He pointed to the futility of that legal suit that Amaewhule and the 26 others pursued, which they used, invariably, as a cover to delay what must necessarily be done.

Oko-Jumbo clarified that on Wednesday, 30th October 2024, Martin Amaewhule and 26 others, without any reason, discontinued Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023, and it was struck out accordingly.

He declared: “The only impediment to INEC conducting a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly was the order of Interlocutory Injunction restraining INEC from conducting a bye-election.

“Now that Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023 has been struck out, the order of Interlocutory Injunction is also spent.

“Accordingly, as the Rt. Honourable Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, I call on INEC to forthwith conduct a bye-election to fill the 27 vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he added.