Political Turmoil in Rivers State: Oko Jumbo-led Assembly Challenges Amaewhule’s Directives

The political landscape of Rivers State has been fraught with tension and power struggles, as the Oko Jumbo-led House of Assembly has publicly asked the general public to disregard the directive from Martin Amaewhule’s faction. This development comes amidst ongoing legal battles and internal disputes within the state’s political sphere.

In a recent sitting, the Oko Jumbo-led Assembly, which is loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, condemned the resolution passed by the Amaewhule-led House, barring Governor Fubara from spending public funds. The Oko Jumbo camp reminded the public that Governor Fubara had already presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the then speaker, Edison Ogerenye Ehie, and it was duly passed on the 13th Day of December, 2023, and assented to on the 14th Day of December, 2023.

The Amaewhule-led House, which is loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had given Governor Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to re-submit the 2024 budget. However, the Oko Jumbo-led Assembly has dismissed this ultimatum, stating that the governor has no obligation to comply with the Amaewhule-led House’s directives.

The ongoing power struggle between the two factions has led to a standstill in governance, with the people of Rivers State bearing the brunt of the political impasse. The Oko Jumbo-led Assembly has called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite preparations for a bye-election to fill the vacant seats created by the defection of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others.

As the political drama unfolds, it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved and whether the two factions will reach a compromise for the sake of the state’s development and the welfare of its people.