The political tension in Rivers State has deepend as the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, dominated by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has intensified efforts that could lead to the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, MUK TV has learned.
On Wednesday, Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule sent a letter to the governor, demanding the removal of 19 commissioners and political appointees who, according to the Assembly, were not properly screened.
He also insisted on receiving a fresh list of nominees for screening.
In the letter, signed by Amaewhule, the governor was accused of making “illegal appointments” without legislative approval, allegedly violating the 1999 Constitution and other relevant laws.
A key point of contention is Governor Fubara’s failure to forward Dagogo Iboroma’s name for screening as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
Amaewhule argued that this appointment contravenes Sections 192 (2) and (5) as well as Section 195 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Speaker further gave the governor 48 hours to submit a fresh list of nominees for appointment as commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council and to fill vacancies in other offices.
Reacting to the Assembly’s directive, Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sydney Tambari, dismissed the lawmakers’ demands, accusing them of overstepping their bounds and further heating up the political atmosphere.
Tambari asserted that all commissioners were screened by Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who was then Speaker of the House of Assembly and was legally recognized by the courts.
“I was screened by Edison Ehie, who was duly recognized by the court as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly. Before then, this group of people had defected from the PDP and went to wherever they went to,” he stated.
Tambari further explained that after Ehie’s resignation, Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo took over as Speaker and also screened and confirmed some of the commissioners and appointees.
“Their demand for the sacking of the commissioners has been overtaken by events because all the commissioners and political appointees were duly screened. The Governor has no reason to send a list of nominees to them,” he maintained.
Tambari also criticized the lawmakers for acting beyond their powers, stating that the Supreme Court ruling they referenced only addressed the 2024 budget and not the removal of commissioners and political appointees.
“The presentation of the budget is at the discretion of the Governor, which has since been overtaken by events,” he added.
With both sides standing their ground, the political crisis in Rivers State appears far from over.
