Pro-Wike, Fubara Speakers Battle For Control Of Rivers Assembly

Factional Speakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have renewed the battle for the control of the state legislature.

The faceoff between Wike and Fubara led to a split of the 32-member House of Assembly into two factions on October 30, 2023, with each of them claiming to have the authentic Speaker.

The face-off followed moves by the House of Assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against the governor.

While Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, who emerged Speaker of the 10th House of Assembly is leading lawmakers, who are loyal to the FCT minister, the lawmakers loyal Governor Fubara elected the suspended leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie as their own Speaker.

Just on Monday, Ehie, who represents Ahoada-East Constituency 2 in the House, alleged an assassination attempt on his life by a group of policemen and armed political thugs.

The allegation was, however, dismissed on that same day by the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who spoke to journalists after visiting Governor Fubara at Government House, Port Harcourt.

LEADERSHIP observed that the battle for the control of the House of Assembly complex resumed on Tuesday after the Parliament Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) announced the suspension of its indefinite strike.

The two factions issued statements announcing that they sat and deliberated on issues of importance to the state.

While the Amaewhule-led lawmakers said they deliberated on two Bills and other issues, the Ehie-led lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on Fubaraat their own sitting.