Tensions Persist in Rivers State as Fubara, Lawmakers Fail to Meet

The political crisis in Rivers State deepened this week as Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s much-anticipated meeting with lawmakers failed to take place, further widening the rift between both sides. Despite extending an invitation through Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, the lawmakers snubbed the meeting without offering any official explanation. Although they held a plenary session on the scheduled day, a principal official of the Assembly, speaking anonymously, revealed the invitation was treated as a non-issue and not discussed.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joe Johnson, said the governor had looked forward to the meeting and waited for two hours before continuing with other engagements. He questioned the lawmakers’ refusal, noting that such meetings are standard practice for resolving disputes.

In the same plenary, the Assembly took a hard stance against the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.), issuing a warrant for his arrest following his repeated failure to honour summons. The lawmakers had extended a 48-hour ultimatum to 72 hours, which expired without compliance. Instead, Enebeli filed a suit at the State High Court in Port Harcourt to challenge the summons. The Assembly sought to question RISIEC on the nullified 2024 local government elections and the funding behind the planned August 9 polls.

House Leader, Major Jack, cited Section 129 of the Constitution to assert the Assembly’s authority to compel Enebeli’s appearance. Speaker Martins Amaewhule criticized the selective obedience to legislative summons by officials previously confirmed by the House, insisting that public funds spent on the elections must be accounted for.

The Assembly unanimously approved the arrest warrant after grilling three recently resigned RISIEC commissioners—Lazbery Nnah, Prof. Simeon Weli, and Mrs. Ibierembo Thompson—on their roles in the elections. Meanwhile, three bills, including the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Bill, 2025, and the Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025, passed first reading.

On the political front, Governor Fubara urged his supporters to remain peaceful amidst the ongoing tensions. Speaking at the inauguration of the new palace of Nyeweali Akpor Kingdom in Ozuoba, Fubara assured residents that his administration would not be derailed. He emphasized peace and lawfulness while condemning acts intended to disrupt governance, assuring that his government was focused on delivering impactful, people-centered projects.

Also at the event, former Governor Rufus Ada George called for de-escalation of the crisis and warned against inflammatory rhetoric. Drawing parallels to the 1962 Western Region crisis, he cautioned that unresolved political turmoil could have nationwide implications and called for humane, pragmatic solutions in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

Amid the turmoil, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Tony Okocha, called for Fubara’s resignation or impeachment over his failure to implement the Supreme Court judgment. Okocha described the governor’s invitation to the lawmakers as a “Greek gift” and accused him of disrespecting both the judiciary and President Bola Tinubu.

However, Emeka Beke, who also claims to be the Rivers APC chairman, distanced the party from Okocha’s comments, stating that he does not represent the party. Beke described Okocha as a “crisis merchant” and reaffirmed the APC’s support for good governance. He praised Governor Fubara’s administration for its accountability and transparency and condemned the impeachment call as baseless and procedurally unfounded.

As tensions linger, Rivers State remains on edge, with political stakeholders and residents watching closely for the next move in the ongoing standoff.