The 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT Abuja who defected to APC this morning December 11

*Insists Defected Rivers Lawmakers Automatically Vacated their Seats 

*Uncertainty as Rivers Govt Exco approves N800BN as 2024 Budget as  estimate 

*Governor Fubara is set to present budget to State Assembly

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should immediately commence the process of conducting fresh elections into the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State which have become vacant by reason of the defection of the 27 former State lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP asserts that by defecting from the PDP, the political Party platform on which they were elected into the Rivers State House of Assembly, the seats of the respective 27 former lawmakers have become vacant by virtue of the provision of Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

For the avoidance of doubt, Section 109 (1) of the 1999 Constitution provides that “a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if … (g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political Party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected…”

In a press statement by Debo Olungunagba , National Publicity Secretary of PDP says that by reason of the above Constitutional provision and its clear interpretation by the Supreme Court, the 27 defected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have vacated and lost their seats, rights, privileges, recognition and obligations accruable to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The PDP therefore demands that the Speaker of the Rivers State House Assembly immediately comply with the provision of the Constitution by declaring the seats of the 27 former lawmakers vacant.

In view of the vacancy now exiting in the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State, the PDP demands that INEC should within the stipulated period under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) conduct fresh election to fill the vacancies.

According to PDP, “Our Party cautions that the former lawmakers should stop parading themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly as such would amount to impersonation with serious criminal consequences”.

The PDP commends the people of Rivers State for their steadfastness and loyalty to Democracy and Rule of Law especially at this time.

*Uncertainty as Rivers Govt Exco approves N800BN as 2024 Budget as  estimate 

There is cloud of political uncertainty and confusion about which faction of the lawmakers will deliberate and approve the 2024 budget estimate of N800billion approved by the Rivers State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara today.

Amidst the defecation of 27 Lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike Minister of Federal Capital Territory, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress APC it is not clear  which of the faction of Lawmakers will approve  the 2024 Budget estimate.

Will the “Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity” be presented to 27 APC Lawmakers or four PDP Lawmakers?

The Government House Press statement signed by Boniface Onyedi, SSA media, to Governor Siminalayi Fubara said State Executive Council has deliberated and approved an estimated budget spending of N800bn for the State government in 2024 fiscal year.

The executive Council also approved that the estimated budget be christened, “Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity.”

The Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara presided over the meeting that held at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson addressed newsmen after the meeting.

He said about N412bn was approved as projected sum for capital expenditure while recurrent expenditure is getting N361bn.

“We had the 5th council meeting of Rivers State. We deliberated on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, which is usually a precursor to discussing the budget.

“An 83 page document was also presented, which has the budget estimate. The budget estimate for 2024 is N800bn, and it is tagged: “Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity.

The Information Commissioner said further: “essentially, the budget is focused on some key areas with infrastructure taking the lead with N128bn of the budget followed by Education, Health and Security.”

Also speaking, the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo said the estimated budget was approved in support of governor Fubara to giving Rivers people renewed hope that will quarantee continual harvest of projects and human capital development.

“We approved an estimated budget of N800,392,485,433kobo, which we believe, by the time it gets to the state House of assembly, the public will be made to see and understand all the projections and fundamentals.

“Basically, the essence of the budget is to give the people and residents of the Rivers State the Renewed Hope and to ensure that there is a consolidation and continuity in what has been happening in terms of the harvest of projects we have been having in the State, and of course other areas, particularly in human capital development, security, investment drive in the State and ease of doing business.”

It is not clear which faction of lawmakers the Governor will present the budget. As it is, the 27 Martin Amaewhule led Lawmakers elected under the auspices of the the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, today, Monday December 11 defected to the All Progressives Congress. APC.

Four Lawmakers loyal to Governor Fubara are led by Edison Ehie as