Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, spokesperson of the Group of 60 Federal Lawmakers in the National Assembly (G60), has criticized the purported attempt by a group of 27 individuals claiming to be members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to amend the state’s procurement law.
Reacting to the reported enactment of the Rivers State Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2024, Ugochinyere emphasized that the group, led by Martins Amaewhule, had their seats declared vacant in December after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), violating constitutional provisions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ugochinyere cited Section 109 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the vacation of seats by lawmakers who switch political parties before the expiration of their term. He argued that the actions of Amaewhule and his associates are unconstitutional and therefore null and void.
Highlighting the purported intention behind the amendment bill, Ugochinyere claimed that its primary objective was to hinder the massive infrastructure development initiatives spearheaded by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The bill allegedly seeks to revise procurement regulations, particularly regarding mobilization fees for contractors, in a manner that would impede progress.
Ugochinyere criticized the proposed amendment, arguing that in the current economic climate, a 20% mobilization fee would be insufficient for contractors to commence work effectively. He suggested that the move was a deliberate attempt to undermine Governor Fubara’s performance and derail infrastructure projects.
It was reported that Governor Fubara had previously declared the current assembly, under Amaewhule’s leadership, as non-existent, further intensifying the political standoff in Rivers State.