Tribunal sacked nethier me nor any lawmakers – Rivers Speaker

Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, has stated that neither him nor any member of the Assembly was sacked by the Elections Petitions Tribunal on Monday.

Ibani’s statement Tuesday was on the heels of the judgement of the tribunal which nullified the elections of the Speaker and 20 other lawmakers of the State Assembly.

Addressing journalists at the Assembly complex, the speaker, representing Andoni Constituency, said the Tribunal gave judgement and ordered a re-run within 90 days.

He said: “I heard over the news that the Speaker and 20 others have been sacked by the Election Tribunal. No member, not even the Speaker has been sacked. The lower Tribunal gave judgement in their opinion. In their judgement they argued that there should be a rerun within 90days.

“The Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani was not sacked by any election petition tribunal, and none of the members were sacked by the election petition Tribunal. I am still the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the members still remain members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.