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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Rivers State House of Assembly has said Edison Ehie, who recently resigned his membership of the House, was never elected as Speaker.
Ehie was the majority leader of the assembly, but he was removed following the political crisis that rocked the state. He was subsequently declared Speaker by the four lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Ehie, however, resigned from his position as Speaker and member representing Ahoada East State Constituency II in a letter dated December 29, 2023, which was addressed to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
Reacting to Ehie’s resignation, the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi, in a statement dated, January 1, 2024, said the Speaker of the Assembly is a creation of the law, adding that Ehie was only claiming what he is not.
In the statement, titled, ‘To whom it may concern,’ Amadi described Ehie’s letter as “misleading information,” stressing that he was never at any time in the life of the Rivers Assembly elected Speaker.
“The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to a letter dated 29 December, 2023, addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission and circulating in the media.
“It was purportedly written and signed by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, member representing Ahoada East Constituency II in the Rivers State of Assembly wherein he claimed to have resigned from the position of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an office he never occupied.
“I am therefore directed to call on the good people of Rivers State to disregard the false claim in this letter that is intended to mislead the unsuspecting public. Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie was never at any time in the life of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected a Speaker.
“The Office of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly is a creation of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) and should not be ridiculed by any member who swore to preserve it and abide by the Constitution.
“As a matter of fact, on Monday, the 5th day of June 2023, after the proclamation of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly by the Governor, and in line with Section 92 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as altered).
“I, as the then acting Clerk of the House, conducted the election that produced Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, DSSRS, as the Speaker of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly by the unanimous votes of all other thirty-one (31) members sitting and present.”
“It is also imperative to state that, from the 5th day of June 2023, when he was elected till today, Amaewhule has been performing his duties as the Speaker,” Amadi said.
The Clerk advised and warned “all purveyors of misleading information against the House to desist forthwith and also call on security agencie” to act to ensure the rule of law.”
“This disclaimer is therefore intended to set the records straight and for the avoidance of doubt from the public that the House is empowered to legislate for.
“The Public is implored to take note accordingly,” he added.
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