Rivers Crisis: Pro-Wike Lawmakers Move Against Fubara, Deny Him Power To Make Key Appointments

On Monday, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Bill into law, overriding the assent of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The new law, among other provisions, strips the Governor of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government areas and mandates the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections before the expiration of local government chairmen’s tenure.

Additionally, if local government elections cannot be held for any reason, the law stipulates that the sitting chairmen’s tenure may be extended by up to six months.

This marks the sixth occasion the House has overridden the Governor’s veto to enact laws.

Led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, the decision was made during the Assembly’s 159th Legislative sitting held at the Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt.

According to a statement by the Speaker’s media aide, Martins Wachukwu, the Assembly initially passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill on March 13, 2014, and forwarded it to the Governor for assent.

However, Fubara withheld his assent, prompting the lawmakers to threaten an override.

Tensions between the Assembly and the governor have escalated since late last year after Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor and political mentor, Nyesom Wike.

Although President Bola Tinubu’s intervention temporarily eased tensions, recent events suggest a return to confrontation.

The statement from the Speaker’s aide on Monday stated: “Determined to perform its constitutional duties, the bill was presented afresh by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, and debated by members.

“Thereafter, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, which empowers the House to override the governor, where he withholds his assent, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, put the question to the House and with two-thirds majority votes, the House agreed to override the governor and passed the bill into law.”