Abuja, NIGERIA — Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has bowed to mounting pressure and called for an urgent meeting with members of the state’s House of Assembly, many of whom are loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike. This comes after a series of legal and political challenges that have deepened divisions within the state. The meeting, scheduled for March 10, 2025, in Port Harcourt, aims to address key issues such as the 2025 budget, unpaid entitlements, and the provision of a permanent venue for the Assembly’s sittings.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called for an urgent meeting with members of the state’s House of Assembly, following a series of legal and political challenges that have stirred tensions within the state’s political landscape. The meeting, scheduled for March 10, 2025, at the Government House in Port Harcourt, aims to address key issues impacting the state, including the 2025 budget, unpaid entitlements for lawmakers, and the provision of a permanent venue for the Assembly’s sittings.
The invitation was extended in an official letter from the Rivers State Government, signed by Chief Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The letter, which is addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, outlines the pressing matters to be discussed during the meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. on March 10.
In the letter, titled *Meeting Between the Governor of Rivers State and the Honourable Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly*, Danagogo explained that the Governor had received the recent Supreme Court ruling, which reaffirmed Amaewhule’s position as the legitimate Speaker of the House. This ruling had intensified the already charged political atmosphere in the state. The letter further detailed the agenda for the meeting, which includes discussions on the provision of a suitable venue for the Assembly’s sittings, the settlement of outstanding remuneration for lawmakers, the presentation of the 2025 budget, and other critical matters concerning the governance of the state.
The letter reads: “In furtherance of His Excellency’s promise stated in my letter dated March 5, 2025, I hereby inform you that His Excellency has received the Supreme Court Judgment. Consequently, he has directed me to invite you and your colleagues—the Honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly—to a meeting to discuss:
– Provision of a befitting space for the Assembly’s sittings
– Payment of all outstanding remuneration or allowances of the Honourable members
– Presentation of the Budget and sundry matters
– Any other matter(s) deemed necessary to chart the way forward in the best interest of the state.”
The meeting’s agenda has been set against the backdrop of rising political and legal tensions between Fubara’s administration and the state legislature. The political climate in Rivers State has become increasingly fraught, especially after the recent Supreme Court judgment which upheld Speaker Amaewhule’s legitimacy in office, sparking further discord.
In recent weeks, the Assembly and Fubara’s government have clashed over several contentious issues, including the governor’s appointment of 19 commissioners, which was contested by the legislature. The commissioners, confirmed by a small group of lawmakers loyal to the governor, have also filed lawsuits aimed at preventing the Assembly from declaring their appointments invalid. They are seeking a court injunction to shield themselves from any interference in their duties within the state executive council.
Compounding these tensions is the standoff between the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), particularly in the aftermath of the annulled October 2024 local government elections. The Chairman of RISIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retired), and his fellow commissioners have repeatedly resisted the Assembly’s demands for their appearance before lawmakers to explain the circumstances surrounding the annulment of the elections. Despite multiple invitations, RISIEC officials have refused to comply, prompting the Assembly to threaten constitutional action under Section 129(1)(d) of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows the legislature to compel public officials to appear before it.
During a recent plenary session, the Assembly reiterated its demand for RISIEC to account for the funding of the annulled elections, as well as the budgetary allocations for the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for August 9, 2025. The lawmakers have made it clear that they will not relent in their push for answers regarding the financial oversight of the elections.
Adding further complexity to the situation is the accusation from lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who have alleged that Governor Fubara is deliberately delaying the presentation of the 2025 state budget. These lawmakers have expressed concern that any further delay in the budget’s presentation could have severe implications for the state’s governance and financial planning. They have warned that they will take necessary legislative actions if the governor does not present the budget promptly.
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