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The political battle in Rivers State has intensified following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appeal in case SC/CV/1071/2024. The ruling has further exposed the sharp divisions between the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, and the state government.
Lawmakers loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have celebrated the judgment, calling it a victory for democracy. However, the state government insists that critical cases challenging the legitimacy of the Assembly’s leadership and the 27 defected lawmakers are still pending before the Supreme Court.
The crisis began in December 2023 when 27 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aligned with Wike, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Fubara, citing constitutional provisions, declared their seats vacant and continued working with the four remaining lawmakers, including passing the 2024 budget. However, the defectors maintained they remained legitimate legislators.
Legal battles followed, with five lawsuits filed in various courts. On Monday, Governor Fubara withdrew one of the cases, arguing that it was no longer relevant since the 2024 budget—at the center of the dispute—had already been fully utilized.
As tensions rise, the power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor Wike shows no signs of abating, leaving Rivers State in a deepening political crisis.
