The All Progressives Congress (APC) says a statement by Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, that the members of the state’s house of assembly do not exist was reckless.
On Monday, Fubara said the existence of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is based on his recognition.
In the past few months, Fubara and members of the Rivers State Assembly have been at loggerheads.
The rift between the governor and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has led members of the Rivers Assembly to take sides.
In a statement on Friday, Felix Morka, spokesperson for the APC, said the state house of assembly is a creation of the 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. We strongly counsel Governor Fubara to submit himself to the dictates of the constitution and the rule of law, ” he said.
