The Speaker of the Edison group of the Rivers State House of Assembly Edison Ehie has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections to replace the 25 lawmakers whose seats were declared vacant.

Edie, who leads a group of lawmakers loyal to Governor Sim Fubara, had on Wednesday passed a resolution declaring the seats of the lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant.

After the move, he wrote to INEC to that effect in a letter dated 14th, December 2023 and titled “Notice of Vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and Request for Conduct of Fresh Elections in the 25 State Constituencies in the Rivers State House of Assembly”.

 “Consequently, I write on behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly to kindly request for a bye-election to be conducted to fill the vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the letter partly read.

He also listed the 25 lawmakers and their constituencies who he claims have vacated their seats.

Edie directed the Accountant General of the State to suspend the payment of the salaries and emoluments of the former lawmakers as resolved by the House.

He quoted the resolution as saying: “That the House resolved and hereby direct the Accountant General of Rivers State to give effect to the resolution of this House and suspends the payment of the salaries and other emoluments due to the former members of this House.” (Channels TV)