The proposal passed by the House led by Martin Amaewhule to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s expenses was rejected by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is presided over by Victor Oko-Jumbo.
This was said by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo during Tuesday’s plenary session.
He said that the actions of Amaewhule and twenty-four other people, whom he identified as former House members, were unlawful and baseless.
Oko-Jumbo contended that the organization lacked the moral standing and legal authority to stop the governor from using taxpayer money.
After Amaewhule and 24 other individuals defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023, he argued that they are not members of the Assembly.
The factional speaker said that the Assembly, which is under his leadership, is the officially recognized branch that, naturally, oversees the house’s statutory distribution.
According to Oko-Jumbo, Governor Fubara properly introduced the appropriations measure to the house during Edison Ehie’s speech, and it was subsequently passed and signed into law.
He stated that in advance of the 2025 fiscal year, the house is expecting to see the medium-term expenditure plan presented.
In order to fill the 25 open seats in the house, he asked the public to disregard the Amaewhule declaration and requested the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, to hold the byelection as soon as possible.
Remembers that the House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, declared at plenary on Monday that all expenses would be suspended until Governor Siminalayi Fubara gave his budget to the House.
