Rivers House of Assembly Crisis: Amaewhule Faction Accuses Governor of Contempt
The political showdown in Rivers State deepens as Governor Siminalayi Fubara firmly rejects the legitimacy of the faction of the State House of Assembly led by Martin Amaewhule, despite mounting pressure from national lawmakers.
In a recent solidarity visit to Amaewhule in Port Harcourt, members of the Rivers National Assembly Caucus urged Governor Fubara to comply with the Court of Appeal ruling that recognizes Amaewhule and 26 others as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The caucus members, including Kingsley Chinda (Obio/Akpor), Senator Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South-East), and Dumnamene Dekor (Khana/Gokana), expressed their disappointment over what they described as Fubara’s intentional distortion of facts and judicial rulings.
In a strongly worded statement, the lawmakers accused the governor of enlisting Senior Advocates like Femi Falana to misinterpret court decisions. They called out Falana for allegedly distorting the facts around a ruling by Justice J.K. Omotosho, which they say neither addresses nor acknowledges the defection of the 27 lawmakers.
“Falana’s misrepresentation of the judgment’s dates and the non-existent defection of the lawmakers is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public,” the lawmakers contended. They further warned that any failure to execute the court’s judgment would amount to contempt of court.
“The Court of Appeal and Supreme Court’s verdict on the legitimacy of the Assembly is final and unalterable. Any action that contravenes this decision will be viewed as contempt of court,” they stated.
The lawmakers also raised concerns over the governor’s involvement in legislative matters, calling the recent appointments made by Fubara—including commissioners, permanent secretaries, and civil servants—illegitimate since they were not screened and confirmed by the Assembly.
“We are not blind to the mismanagement of state funds, and a day of reckoning is coming,” Speaker Amaewhule warned, suggesting that the governor’s financial handling would soon come under investigation.
However, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, quickly dismissed these claims. In a response titled “Setting the Records Straight on the Situation in Rivers,” Johnson insisted that Amaewhule and his faction had forfeited their seats following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.
Johnson emphasized that the court ruling had no impact on their defection and subsequent loss of seats, noting that their actions on the floor of the House were fully public. He also reaffirmed Governor Fubara’s respect for the law, emphasizing his commitment to uphold the Constitution and the judicial system.
“Governor Fubara remains law-abiding and will not recognize individuals who no longer hold legislative office,” Johnson concluded.
The political impasse between Fubara and the Amaewhule faction is likely to continue as both sides dig in their heels, leaving the future of the Rivers State House of Assembly hanging in the balance.
