Rivers: Opposition Lawmakers Hail New Speaker, Want INEC To Conduct By-elections For 27 Vacant Seats

A group of federal lawmakers belonging to the opposition parties in the National Assembly known as the G60, has hailed the emergence of Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, the lawmaker representing Bonny LGA constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly, as the new speaker of the State Assembly.

Jumbo emerged after the resignation of Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who is now the Chief of Staff to the state government and following the declaration of 27 seats of members of the House who defected from PDP to APC vacant.

The Opposition Lawmakers in a statement by its spokesperson, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, passed a vote of confidence on the new speaker, urging him to work together with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to continue ensuring that Rivers people get dividends of democracy.

The lawmakers noted that with the development, the political madness and legislative rascality, being allegedly perpetrated by former members of the House of Assembly will come to an end.

They urged the Governor of Rivers State to commence prosecution against the sacked lawmakers using the Magistrate Court to arraign them for impersonation.

They also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct bye-elections, to fill the vacant seats of the 27 former members of the State House of Assembly.