Rivers Crisis Deepens As Assembly Adjourns Indefinitely

The crisis rocking Rivers State has taken another disturbing dimension as the House of Assembly has adjourned indefinitely.

This came yesterday amidst moves  by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the lawmakers on March 19, 2025.

After passing three bills, the lawmakers said they had adjourned sine die.

Fubara had written the legislators of his intention to re-present the 2025 budget to the House for consideration and approval.

The governor had, in a letter he personally signed, dated March 13, 2025 and addressed to the Speaker of the House , Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, said he intended to prevent the budget on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other day within March that the House may deem fit.

He stated that the decision to re-present the 2025 budget is in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for him to re-present the budget.

Before adjourning indefinitely, the lawmakers passed into law three bills:  the Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025.

The Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill is a Bill for a Law to grant the Rivers State House of Assembly the power, privileges and immunity to carry out its legislative duties. It was referred to the House Committee on Rules and Business.

Also, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill is a Bill for a Law to repeal the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018, and to re-enact it to provide for the establishment, composition and functions of the Commission. It was referred to the House Committee on Commissions and Agencies.

Also, the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025, is a Bill for a Law to repeal the existing Rivers State Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023 and 2024, and to re-enact a new Local Government Law. It was committed to the House Committee on Local Government.

State Govt Worried, Says Action Will Affect Payment Of Salaries, Pensions

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend on the indefinite adjournment of the House, the state commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, described the development as sad.

Johnson said: “It is a sad development because we are trying to cease the impending dangers of paying salaries, wages and pensions of civil servants and then the dangers of serving the entire state. The House of Assembly people are not working in line with our thoughts. It is a very disturbing development.”

He, however, expressed the hope that the lawmakers will reconvene to pass the 2025 Appropriation Bill into law, in order to remove the stranglehold on the federal allocation to the state.

Lawyers Task Legislators On Execution Of Supreme Court Judgement

Meanwhile, a lawyer, Barrister Abel A. Obasi, has applauded the governor for promptly obeying the judgement of the court.

According to him, it is now left for the state lawmakers to allow the governor to enforce the judgement.

“Adjourning indefinitely is petty politics they are playing. The lawmakers should give peace a chance and move the state forward”, he said.

Another lawyer and convener of People’s Rights Advancement, Barrister Ezeani U. Ano, warned against throwing the state into chaos.

“With this dirty politics at play in the state, it’s the people, it’s the state that will suffer. Each party should sheathe its sword and allow governance to take place in the state. The progress of the state will be retarded, if this continues,” he said.

Lawmakers Can Reconvene If Expedient – APC Spokesperson

Also speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Hon. Chibike Ikenga, said the indefinite adjournment does not mean that the House of Assembly cannot reconvene at any time to address serious issues.

Ikenga said, “It is not correct to say that they didn’t give the governor any opportunity. When the House of Assembly say they have adjourned sine die, it does not mean that they cannot even reconvene today as well if they need arises.

“So, people misunderstand that adjournment. If there is urgency, they can even reconvene today; they can even reconvene tomorrow as the case may be. So, that is how it is; it is not a challenge.”

On his part, a legal practitioner, Barrister Higher King, said there would not be any detrimental or adverse consequences if Fubara chooses to run along without consulting the House of Assembly.

King said: “You can see that they are not interested in peace. But the truth is that the government will continue to run; the government cannot be stampeded. Life cannot stop, light cannot stop. The show must go on. Rivers State must go on even if they adjourn sine die. What they are doing in Rivers State is politics. The Nigerian politician is not interested in what is right, what is constitutional; they don’t do what is moral.

“The legal implication is that the governor will not have to consult them before doing anything. The governor have to go on. In the last one year plus, the governor has been going on. The governor never consulted them; he consulted with the other House of Assembly led by Oko-Jumbo. The government must continue to run. I don’t see any detrimental consequences; I don’t see any adverse consequences at all.”

INEC Releases Voter Register For Rivers LG Polls

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the register of voters for the conduct of Rivers State Local Government Councils election scheduled for August 9, 2025.

This is sequel to a formal request from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), in compliance with the Electoral Act and a recent Supreme Court ruling.

RISIEC had, in a letter dated March 3, 2025, and signed by its chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, requested the release of the current voter register and the updated list of registered political parties.

The letter, addressed to INEC chairman, noted that the electoral body had concluded plans to conduct fresh LGA elections in the state, citing Sections 9(1)(a) and 15 of the Electoral Act 2022.

It read in part, “We write to inform you that following the recent pronouncement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has concluded plans to stage a fresh Local Government Council Election in Rivers State.

“The proposed date is Saturday, 9th August 2025, about 159 days from today, informed by Section 150 of the Electoral Act. We therefore hereby request the release of the current voters register together with the updated list of registered political parties in Nigeria.”

In its reply, INEC, in a letter dated March 12 and signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran, a copy of which was sighted by LEADERSHIP Weekend, granted the request and asked RISIEC to collect the soft copy of the Rivers State Register of Voters and the updated list of registered political parties from its state office.

Impeachment threat, height of insensitivity – APC Chieftain

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described the threat to impeach Governor Fubara as the ‘height of political insensitivity.’

Eze, in a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, further described the plot to impeach the governor as ‘subjugation of rights of riverine axis of Rivers State”, saying that any attempt to remove a riverine governor and replace him with someone from upland would lead to calamity in the state.