The Rivers State High Court is now hearing arguments over the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly’s power to void Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appointment of 19 commissioners.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The commissioners have launched a lawsuit to prevent the Assembly from deeming their appointments unlawful, despite the fact that four lawmakers who support Governor Fubara approved their selections. This follows the Supreme Court’s decision to reject Governor Fubara’s cross-appeal and uphold Amaewhule as the rightful Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
RISIEC Chairman, Commissioners Contest Summons of Assembly Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), and his commissioners are also contesting the House’s right to call them in for interrogation. Enebeli was first issued a 48-hour notice by the Assembly to come before it and explain the situation behind the canceled October 2024 Local Government Elections. However, the deadline was extended by 72 hours after he failed to show up.
Governor Fubara’s commissioners are suing to obtain an interlocutory injunction that would prevent Amaewhule and twenty-six other people from acting or enforcing resolutions that were voted on March 5. Additionally, they are requesting that the court issue an order prohibiting the Assembly from interfering with their state executive council commissioner responsibilities.
In a same vein, Justice Enebeli (rtd) and his RISIEC team are requesting that the court prevent the Assembly from summoning them before it, stating that doing so would be illegal. In his decision, Justice Frank Onyiri postponed the hearing to April 17, 2025, and allowed the claimants to serve the Assembly using alternative methods. The assembly demands accountability and extends the deadline for summons.
In its plenary session on Wednesday, the Assembly reiterated its intention to call Enebeli and his commissioners, demanding that they provide an explanation of the financing sources for the local government election that was declared invalid as well as the anticipated costs for the new election that is set for August 9, 2025. Official letters were addressed to Governor Fubara and RISIEC authorities requesting that he propose the 2025 Appropriations Bill, House Leader Major Jack told the legislators. The governor and the head of RISIEC, however, have not replied to the invitations.
The Assembly was taking legislative notice of Governor Fubara’s failure to present the 2025 budget, Speaker Martin Amaewhule cautioned, and would take the required steps when the time was right. Additionally, the Assembly approved a resolution directing the Clerk of the House to extend an invitation to RISIEC representatives to address members once more on March 10, 2025. If they did not appear, the parliamentarians threatened to use Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution.
Rivers’ political crisis causes security tensions to rise. Following warnings from militant groups that threatened to attack oil sites because of the ongoing political turmoil, the Rivers State Police Command has pledged to crack down on threats to national security. Olugbenga Adepoju, the commissioner of police, sent a strong warning to those who were preparing violence. “Nobody has a monopoly on violence,” he declared. Everyone will undoubtedly be consumed if fire is coming from heaven, not just one individual. He informed locals that the police were ready to deal with any commotion.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
