The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has claimed that Rivers State House of Assembly members who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have forfeited their seats in the legislative body.
Following the political standoff between Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State and the current Minister of the FCT, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, approximately 25 members of his party defected to the APC.
While Falana stated late last year that lawmakers who joined the APC would lose their seats, the human rights lawyer has reiterated his view. “The 25 legislators who defected lost their seats. “They have lost their right to remain members of the assembly,” he stated on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“In the instance of Adetunde and the Labour Party, the Supreme Court stated unequivocally that you cannot decamp and then remain a member of a legislative body in Nigeria unless you can demonstrate a disagreement within your party.
“Today, the PDP is one.” A new controversy arose in the Rivers State Assembly after some lawmakers elected Victor Oko-Jumbo as speaker. Although the number of people who chose him as speaker is unknown, Oko-Jumbo, who represents the Bonny constituency, was elected by members known to be loyal to Governor Fubara. However, Falana has stated that parliamentarians must maintain etiquette when electing a speaker.
“Again, we must examine the Constitution. Before the House may begin proceedings, it must first assemble a quorum to undertake its business, which is defined in the Constitution,” Falana stated. “However, in order to remove the governor through impeachment, a two-thirds majority of the legislature is required. “This is very clear.”
(Channels)
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