The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his recent comment on lawmakers at the House of Assembly.
Fubara had said that the members of the state’s House of Assembly do not exist adding that their relevance was based on his recognition.
In a statement on Friday, May 10, APC spokesperson Felix Morka, said the State House of Assembly is a creation of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Governor Fubara’s declaration that the Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist is not only reckless, it is a direct affront to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement reads.
“The House of Assembly is a creation of the Constitution, and vested with the legislative authority of the state.
“The members of the Assembly were elected by the good people of Rivers state in the same manner that Fubara was elected Governor.
“The Assembly does not exist at the Governor’s pleasure or fanciful whims. The legislature is at the core of the idea of democracy. It is co-equal with the executive and judicial arms of government.
“The constitutionally entrenched principle of separation of powers among the three arms of government guarantees essential checks and balances required to ensure observance of the rule of law. The rule of law is indispensable to democracy and constitutional order.
“If his declaration that the House of Assembly is nonexistent is based on the fact that the 27 members who decamped from PDP to APC have lost their seats, then Governor Fubara is sorely misled.”
Morka said the alleged attack by Fubara on the House of Assembly and its leadership is disrespectful to the order of a court.
“Governor Fubara’s quest to repudiate the Constitution and govern in denial of the existence of the state legislature is, in and of itself, among other grounds, an impeachable offence,” he said.
“We strongly counsel Governor Fubara to submit himself to the dictates of the constitution and the rule of law.”
