Rivers ruling PDP lawmakers elect Minority Leader against APC members’ choice

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday elected Hon. Benibo Fredrick Anabraba of the All Progressives Congress, APC, representing Akuku Toru Constituency 11, as the Minority Leader of the House. He was nomination and seconded by a member from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against the preferred candidate of the opposition party, APC, members.

The drama in the House started unfolding when Hon. Victoria Nyeche, the only female member of the Assembly, representing PHALGA 1 under the All Progressives Congress, APC, nominated Hon. Josiah Olu representing Eleme Constituency, of the same party for Minority Leader. However, Hon. Sam Ogeh, a PDP member representing Emohua Constituency, quickly stood up and nominated Hon. Anabraba.

The nomination of Hon. Anabraba was seconded by Hon. Edison Ehie, another PDP Lawmaker from Ahoada East II. Efforts by Hon. Nyeche to stop the move, using Order 10 Rule 1 of the House Rules failed as Hon. Martins Amaewhule, Leader of the House, also sighted the same Order 5 Rule 1 and Order 6 Rule 1, to counter Hon. Nyeche.

Hon. Ehie argued that at all times, the Speaker should interpret the Standing Order of the House, pointing out that Order 10 Rule 1 did not specify who to nominate, rather, it only stated that Minority and Deputy Minority Leaders must come from the opposition party.
The drama rose to a crescendo when efforts by Hon. Olu to raise further Order did not scale through as the Speaker, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, declared that order 10 Rule 1 was not ambiguous. The Speaker, then called for votes.

Following the voting, Hon. Anabraba polled 15 votes while Hon. Olu, polled 8 votes. Angered by the development, the APC members present in the House all walked out, ignoring the Speaker’s calls for the nomination of Deputy Minority Leader.

Commenting after the election, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Ibani congratulated Hon. Anabraba on his emergence. He stated that he would continue to be fair to all and uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as earlier promised, adding that the Order was couched in 1999 under the Speakership of the former governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaewhule and has not been amended since then.

In a brief chat with journalists after the session, Hon. Anabraba now the Minority Leader of the House, said he would carry out his functions in the interest of Rivers State, stating that “being a minority is not a heritage for punishment but tool to operate with other lawmakers to make good laws for the state.