The crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at national level as claimed another victim in Rivers State with the State House of Assembly reversing itself by stripping Celestine Omehia, the status of a former Governor.

Omehia is an ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2023 general election, against the Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike.

Wike has been on a collision cause with the Party over the outcome of the presidential primary which produced the former Vice President.

The 8th Assembly, during the first term of the governor, had passed a motion recognizing Omehia as a former Governor, despite a supreme court judgement which nullified his election.

He has since been accorded all rights, benefits and priviledges of a former governor in the State.

Stripping Omehia of the same status followed a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Martin Amaewmule, to reverse the earlier resolution of June 30, 2015 which compelled the Executive Arm to recognised Omehia as a former governor and be accorded all entitlements, privileges and benefits.

The House Leader argued that the continued recognition of Omehia in that capacity will be a bridge of the Supreme Court judgement which in 2007 him as a Governor for not being the duly elected candidate in that year’s election.

The lawmaker also submitted a copy of the Nigerian Weekly Law Report that contains the landmark judgement which removed Omehia from office and declared Rotimi Amaechi as the duly elected candidate of the PDP at the time and the right person to occupy the office of the Governor.

He said the motion is being moved now to reverse the earlier resolution because the 9th Assembly has a better knowledge and particulars on the said Supreme Court Judgement.

Amaewmule who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency one, submitted four prayers to the house for endorsement which include:

“The House rescind its earlier resolution that Omehia be recognised.

“Omehia ceases to use the title “HIS EXCELLENCY”

“Omehia stops using the acronym “GSSRS”, meaning, Grand Service Star of Rivers State, which is a state honour meant for an incumbent and former Governors alone.

“Omehia refunds all monitory entitlements received from the Rivers State Government, especially the sum of 600 million naira in benefits and 96.5 million naira in pension he has so far received as at September 2022 from the Rivers State Government within seven days.

“Any other decisions that the house deemed necessary.”

The motion was seconded by the Whip of the House, Evans Bipi.

In a debate, all the lawmakers who made contributions, including the representative of Celestine Omehia’s constituency in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Anselm Oguguo agreed to the prayers.

Some of the lawmakers, however, requested that a specific decision be made on what action to be taken if Celestine Omehia fails to refund the monitory benefits.

After the debate, all 21 members present at the plenary voted in support of the four prayers by the leader of the House.

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said the house was right in taking the decision, because no law is absolute.