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The political landscape of Rivers State has been rocked by the recent election of Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo as the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a move he claims is legal and constitutional.
The Bonny Constituency lawmaker was elected during a 10 am plenary session on Wednesday, May 9, 2024, in line with the Standing Order of the House.
This election follows the resignation of former Speaker Edison Ehie and the factional split within the Assembly.
Jumbo’s election is a direct response to the political instability in the state, as two lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara elected him to lead the factional Assembly.
This development comes on the heels of a series of legislative actions taken by the previous Assembly led by former Speaker Martin Chike Amaewhule, actions that Jumbo has called into question and deemed null and void.
In his acceptance speech, Oko-Jumbo expressed gratitude to his colleagues and called on the Executive, Judiciary, and the public to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
He cited the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the CFRN 1999, which mandates that the seats of the 25 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) be declared vacant.
This factional divide stems from a rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of the state’s political structure.
Governor Fubara has been urged by Jumbo to cease any dealings with the 25 former lawmakers, as they are no longer recognized members of the Assembly.
This call for separation from the defectors is based on their legal status and the judgment of Lord Denning in the case of MacFoy v UAC (1961) 3 All ER 1169, which emphasizes the nullity of actions taken by those not recognized by law.
As Rivers State navigates this turbulent political terrain, the newly elected Speaker, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, aims to work with Governor Fubara to promote the progress and welfare of the state.
This latest development is a clear indication of the complex and ever-evolving nature of Nigeria’s political landscape.
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