Rivers demolishes Assembly, as Speaker declares defectors’ seats vacant

Rivers State government in Nigeria has on Wednesday, December 13 demolished its legislative chambers as the Speaker declared 25 seats of defectors vacant.

In a statement, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson said the chambers were not safe for human habitation as a result of a recent fire incident.

As the demolitions were going on, four lawmakers loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara held a plenary at Government House, Port Harcourt.

This was after 27 members of the House elected on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket defected to the All Progressive Congress on December 11.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Photo: BBC

In their letters, the lawmakers explained that they defected to the APC party due to the tussle for the national secretary position in PDP.

The crisis worsened as the State Assembly complex was demolished amid tight security as the governor presented the 2024 budget to a few legislators.

During the demolitions, the roads leading to the chambers were closed as no vehicle or pedestrians were allowed to pass.

However, Governor Fubara was seen at the assembly in the morning before the demolitions started.

Fubara presented a budget estimate of N800 billion that he said was a budget of renewed hope, consolidation and continuity.

According to the governor, the budget will be funded from internally generated revenue Federation Account Allocation Committee receipts, and 13 percent oil derivation fund.

Meanwhile, the Ehie-led lawmakers said the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly had relocated to the state Government House, Port Harcourt, as an alternative sitting place.

The speaker also declared the seats of 25 out of the 27 PDP lawmakers who recently defected to the APC vacant in line with Section 109 (1) (g) and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

“We are aware that there is no division or crisis in our great party, the PDP, and therefore the provision of section 109 sub-1 paragraph G of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended attracts a vacation of the seats of these honourable members of the House,” read part of Speaker’s statement.