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A few days after it became clear that
the National Assembly will defer the date for next years election,
federal lawmakers from Rivers State pulled truncated a long vacation
and sat down for a crucial meeting.

To the legislators, the request for
more time by the Independent National Electoral Commission, was a
welcome opportunity and the immediate and far-flung import of the shift
in dates was not lost on them.

They understood that a postponement could mean an alteration of the constitution and, especially the Electoral Act.

As aspiring returnees to the National
Assembly in 2011, the Rivers State lawmakers understood that the
amendments , as events will later prove them right, could provide the
needed antidote to a deadly political ailment facing them: the
almost-certain prospect of losing their party tickets next year.

That possibility hung over at least 11
out of the 16 members representing the state at the federal assembly.
It however worsened as the rift between the lawmakers and their
governor, Rotimi Ameachi, deepened ahead of 2011.

“If the first INEC timetable had been
maintained and the party primaries held in October 2010, it was quite
clear that almost all of them would have gone. And they all knew that,”
a member who does not want to be quoted, said.

So while the nation was grappling with
the worry of what consequences a last minute deferment of polls may
bring to the struggling electoral system, the Rivers State lawmakers
forged a position, agreeing to seek succour in the proposed amendments.

In the end, according to lawmakers who
agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, self preservation moves by
the Rivers contingent shaped the lawmakers amendment of the Electoral
Act in ways that is now generating tension in the country. “Not that
this kind of problem was not found in other states. Of course it
existed in almost every state. But that of Rivers was the most notable
and it affected almost all the members,” another member of the House
told NEXT.

Those who spoke said although there had
been widespread quest for a super antidote to the threat of the loss of
party tickets facing majority of the members. So they came up with the
two proposals to protect their jobs – the Right of First Refusal,
earlier defeated by public outcry, and now the automatic membership of
the highest decision making body of political parties by members of the
National Assembly. Both proposals were formulated by lawmakers from
Rivers.

However, during phone interviews on
Friday, two members of the House from the state, Igo Aguma and Asita
Honourable, denied this claim.

While Mr.Aguma’s rejection was
sweeping, (he described the charge as a “total farce”), Mr. Honourable
said he could not confirm if the second proposal has roots in the
state, but he acknowledged that majority of members from that state
have strong sympathy for both clauses – a position he said he is
personally opposed to. “It is selfish, it is immoral and it is without
conscience,” he said.

But those making the allegations
highlight the state’s intricate polity. Mr Ameachi’s disagreement with
the lawmakers dates back to the annulment of Celestine Omehia’s
election as governor of the state in 2007. Majority of the state’s
representatives and senators had supported Mr. Omehia, who served only
for three months before he was fired by the Supreme Court,

Yet, unlike other states with similar
circumstances where lawmakers promptly switched loyalties to the new
government, majority of the lawmakers in Rivers remained at odds with
Mr. Ameachi, insiders say.

By August this year, only two out of
the 13 House members from the state stood a chance of winning a return
ticket in 2011, namely Mr. Honourable and Andrew Uchendu. Incidentally,
the two were not in support of Mr. Omehia.

“The INEC request became the turning
point for the members. It gave them more time to manoeuvre,” said one
member. Fighting their corner With the prospect of a new Electoral Act
amendment, the 11 lawmakers, allegedly led by Mr. Aguma, the chairman,
House committee on Gas Resources and Olaka Nworgu, launched the first
attempt through the “Right of First Refusal” clause, which would have
required incumbents to declare first, whether or not to continue in
office, before anyone else.

Mr.Honourable confirmed that the clause
originated from the state although he could not be sure of those who
pushed it. “They introduced it to corrupt the system. No matter what
they say, their intention is to protect their own future and not the
future of the people they represent,” he said.

With the tremendous public condemnation
that greeted the plan, the proposal was withdrawn before an official
presentation was made at any of the legislative chambers.

Weeks later, the lawmakers introduced
the bill seeking to make them members of the National Executive
Committees of political parties, considered as a “backdoor entrance” of
the earlier bill.

“This would tantamount to legislative
rascality and parliamentary gambadoism,” a member, Patrick Obahiagbon,
said at a press conference where he condemned the plan on Monday. At a
separate interview, Mr. Obahiagbon said he saw it his responsibility to
oppose the clause “with every strength I have”.

Officially, both chambers have insisted
the intent of the bill was to deepen democracy in the political
parties. Mr. Aguma, a co-sponsor of the bill in the house, reiterated
that position to NEXT. He said political parties have lost focus, and
remain only a vehicle for winning elections. “Can you tell me the
ideology of the PDP, ACN or ANPP? They simply don’t exist,” he argued.
“We need a structure whereby the parties meet government.” That, he
said, he was confident the lawmakers can deliver if they become members
of the parties’ NEC.

The bill has garnered unquestionable support by lawmakers in both chambers, and won smooth passage through two readings.

The likely hood of David Mark, the
senate president, and Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of the House,
returning are also shaky and they both reportedly assented to the
proposal in the belief that it would enhance a larger return of
incumbent members, which in turn will help them retain their offices.

Mr. Bankole is said to be working on
reconciling with his home state governor, Gbenga Daniel. Part of the
bargain, NEXT understands, was that the former Speaker of the Ogun
state House of Assembly, Titi Oseni, who wants to contest for Mr.
Bankole’s seat, has been prevailed upon to step down.

Mrs Oseni however denied she has been asked to step down. ‘I will not step down for anyone,’ she said.