Ignore pro-Wike assembly ultimatum, G60 lawmakers tell Fubara

A faction of lawmakers in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, known as the G60, has described the sittings of Rivers State assemblymen loyal to former governor and current Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, as “a glorified kindred meeting with no legality.” They also told Governor Siminalayi Fubara to ignore the seven-day ultimatum issued by the pro-Wike assembly.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, issued a seven-day ultimatum on Monday to Governor Fubara, demanding he re-present the 2024 budget to the House. This followed the first sitting of the pro-Wike faction of the House on the same day. In a parallel sitting, the faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo confirmed Emmanuel Oniengiye Frank-Fubara as a commissioner nominee.

Governor Fubara had previously presented the budget to the House loyal to him, with his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, presiding as Speaker. This faction passed the budget estimate, and the governor signed it into law, aiming to promote economic development, inclusive growth, and address socio-economic inequality in the state. However, the crisis within the Rivers State House of Assembly shows no signs of abating.

Last week, the Court of Appeal vacated the order that had sacked 25 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel of justices, ruled that the Rivers High Court lacked the jurisdiction to issue the order.

Reacting to the developments, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, spokesperson of the G60 and a constitutional lawyer turned federal lawmaker, dismissed the sitting by the pro-Wike lawmakers as legally invalid and insisted that the seven-day ultimatum to Governor Fubara was baseless.

“The sitting of pro-Wike sacked lawmakers is a glorified kindred meeting with no legality. Sacked Rivers lawmakers’ seats remain vacant as the Appeal Court did not decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant,” Ugochinyere stated. He further urged Governor Fubara to ignore the seven-day ultimatum.

“The legal fireworks continue, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and subject to pending litigation,” he added, clarifying that the Court of Appeal’s ruling focused on the jurisdictional authority of the Federal High Court over such matters.

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