The political crisis in Rivers State continues despite this morning’s ruling by the Nigerian Supreme Court reinstating the 26 members of the state’s House of Assembly, reportedly hostile to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The spokesperson for the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has insisted that Gov Fubara remains in control and will continue governing the state.
On Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a major verdict affecting Rivers State politics. The ruling recognized the faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, who is loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike, as the legitimate legislature.
The court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to stop releasing Rivers State’s monthly federal allocations. Additionally, local government chairmen elected under Governor Fubara’s administration were removed.
The Fight Isn’t Over
Despite this ruling, Ugochinyere has urged Fubara’s supporters to remain calm, insisting that the battle is far from over. He emphasized that the Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of the defection of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC). That case, he noted, is still pending at the Court of Appeal.
“It is surprising that the Supreme Court faulted the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal for vacating the initial order that stopped the release of funds to Rivers State,” Ugochinyere said. “The ruling claimed that Governor Fubara did not re-present the 2024 budget to the Martins Amaewhule-led faction, but despite this, he remains in charge.”
The lawmaker argued that the Supreme Court’s decision does not settle the key issue of whether the pro-Wike lawmakers legally switched parties.
“For emphasis, the case challenging the illegality of the pro-Wike decampment is still being heard at the Appeal Court,” he stated. “We are surprised that the Supreme Court conferred legitimacy on lawmakers whose defection is still under litigation.”
Ugochinyere maintained that the 27 lawmakers who defected to the APC violated the Nigerian Constitution and should no longer be recognized as members of the Assembly.
“To the power-drunk pro-Wike group, the 27 lawmakers stand removed, having desecrated the Constitution by defecting from the peaceful PDP to the rancorous APC,” he declared. “They should not celebrate yet—it’s not uhuru!”
What Happens Next?
The ongoing political battle in Rivers State has created tension between Gov. Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The crisis deepened in late 2023 when the 27 lawmakers defected to the APC amid disagreements over governance and party loyalty.
Governor Fubara, backed by his loyalists, has vowed to continue serving the people of Rivers State. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling gives Wike’s faction an advantage, at least for now. Political analysts believe the final resolution will depend on the outcome of the substantive case at the Court of Appeal on the lawmakers’ defection.
It is not yet clear if the central bank will withhold monthly allocations to the state as directed by the court, and if so, what other funding options for governance will be left to the state government.
Like 👍, Comment, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
