Elder statesman and Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to urgently conduct by-elections to fill the 27 ‘vacant ‘seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Clark, in an open letter to the INEC chairman dated January 21, 2025, who recounted the circumstances that led to the crisis in the State Assembly, insisted that the 27 lawmakers led by Martin Amaehule, defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sponsored them, to another political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) when there was no crisis in PDP which, according to him, contravenes Section 109 1(g) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.
The state Governor Siminalayi Fubara has since recognised and has been working with Speaker Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie-led House of Assembly.
The former federal commissioner of information in Nigeria said the seats of the 27 former members have been vacant for more than one year, depriving the people of the affected constituencies of representation.
He said INEC, under Yakubu’s watch, has yet to carry out its statutory function of conducting by-election to fill the seats.
Clark, who linked the political tussle to the battle between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, and his successor and incumbent Rivers governor, Fubara, said “I have cause to, once again, address this Open letter to you (Yakubu).”
He added, “This time, on the need to appeal to you to urgently conduct by-elections to fill up the 27 seats which are vacant at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) as a result of the defection from the political party that sponsored them to another political party when there was no crisis in their previous political party thus contravening Section 109 1(g) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended.”
Clark said the crisis which has enveloped the entire Rivers State and even part of the Niger Delta, said
“The essence of this Open Letter, therefore, is to, once again, my dear chairman, implore you to write your name in the golden annals of the history of this country. You know how much regards I have for you, particularly as a brilliant and erudite scholar.”
Noting that the nation’s Constitution is the Grund norm, Clark said 27 lawmakers openly, on the floor of the House, announced their defection from PDP to APC, when there was no crisis in their former political party.
Clark said in compliance with constitutional provisions, the new Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, had written to INEC, informing it of the vacant seats.
He said a series of events were held to commemorate the defection, including the lawmakers’ reception by the Tony Okocha-led APC in the state.
Clark lamented that Amawhule and his colleagues are still parading themselves as members of RSHA, “attempting to turn the issue on its head, that they did not defect.”
He accused them of shopping from one court to the other, for court judgments and rulings.
Clark further expressed concern that the presidency, legislature and judiciary are committing a breach of the 1999 Constitution which has empowered them to occupy the offices they are today.
He said “Nigerians are asking what is happening, particularly the defiance with the number one law of the country, the Constitution, which binds the nation together.
“This is no longer politics; it has nothing to do with politics. This is an obvious case of people who think that they are above the law, people who are entrusted with our patrimony, our natural assets, using these same resources to circumvent the laws of the land, dominate and oppress others.
“The President of Nigeria, his Ministers, members of the National Assembly, etc., who came into power by the provisions of the Constitution, seem no longer to be in a position to defend the Constitution.
“There cannot be a government in any country if the constitution that binds everyone together is being bastardised. Nigeria is no doubt heading to a failed state. God forbid. This will not happen because the Nigerian people will defend it. The supreme laws of the country must be obeyed if there must be a country called Nigeria,” he said.
