10th March , 2025
Sherif Oyewole
News desk
The political rift in Rivers State deepened on Monday as the 27 pro-Wike members of the State House of Assembly refused to attend a crucial meeting called by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The lawmakers, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, rejected the invitation, citing procedural lapses in its communication.
Governor Fubara, through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, had invited the legislators to a meeting at the Government House. However, the lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, turned down the request, insisting that the Governor failed to properly channel his invitation.
The Assembly members have been locked in a prolonged political battle with Fubara for over 18 months, following a fallout between the Governor and his predecessor, Wike.
The invitation followed a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the lawmakers, demanding that the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and his Commissioners appear before the House. They sought explanations on the 2024 local government elections and the expenditure of funds without legislative approval.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Hon. Isaiah Opuende (Akuku-Toru Constituency 2) accused the Governor of sending the invitation through social media instead of formal channels.
Mocking the Governor’s approach, Opuende remarked: “Dey your dey, make we dey our dey. How can you send a letter, post it on social media, and expect us to honor it? We are not kids. The Governor should write to the Assembly properly. That’s all.”
The standoff further underscores the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, as both factions remain locked in a battle for control over the state’s governance.
