Rivers House Of Assembly Clerk Reveals Authentic Speaker Of The House

The Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, has thrown his weight behind Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Amadi, in a statement dated 8th May 2024, disowned Victor Oko Jumbo, who emerged on Wednesday as the factional Speaker of the Assembly and is loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Naija News recalls Jumbo was elected Speaker by Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Adolphus Orubimie Timothy, both lawmakers loyal to Fubara.

However, Amadi, in his letter, said the trio of Jumbo, Sokari and Timothy were suspended on October 30, 2023, and cannot lay claim to being officers of the House.

He added that the Rivers State House of Assembly is still conducting business under Amaewhule’s leadership, in accordance with the House’s standing orders and the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The Clerk, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard any report purporting a change in the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, has said his election into office is legal and constitutional.

He was said to have taken the oath of office as the factional Speaker of the Assembly following his election by two lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Jumbo was led to the plenary with the original mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko, who managed the last sitting of the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly in the same position.

In his acceptance speech, Oko-Jumbo thanked the members for electing him as the new Speaker sequel to the resignation of the former Speaker, Edison Ehie.

He called on the Executive and the Judiciary, as well as the public, to disregard every law purportedly enacted by the Amaewhule-led Assembly, describing it as an exercise in futility.