Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to recognize the 27 State House of Assembly members led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule marks the end of a prolonged political crisis that had persisted for over a year and five months. The conflict arose when these lawmakers, originally members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), leading Fubara to declare their seats vacant. These lawmakers were loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, which further fueled tensions between Fubara and the Wike faction.
The issue escalated through a series of legal battles, with the matter eventually reaching the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the reinstatement of the Amaewhule-led lawmakers. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the lawmakers resumed their duties and issued an ultimatum to Fubara, demanding that he re-present the 2025 budget that had previously been passed by lawmakers loyal to him.
The governor’s formal letter to the Amaewhule-led Assembly, signaling his recognition of the lawmakers and adherence to the Supreme Court ruling, is a significant development. This shows that Fubara is complying with the legal decision and attempting to resolve the crisis, even though there had been concerns about whether he would honor the court’s judgment.
The situation remains fluid, with the governor signaling that he may not meet the 48-hour ultimatum for the re-presentation of the budget. This adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing power struggle between the factions.
Given the tensions that have existed between the factions, the resolution of this issue may take time, especially with the looming question of whether the governor will fully cooperate with the demands of the Amaewhule-led Assembly. The political future of both Fubara and Wike, as well as the stability of the Rivers State government, may depend on how the situation unfolds.
What are your thoughts on the situation? Do you think this move by the governor will bring lasting peace to the political crisis in Rivers, or do you anticipate further tensions ahead?
