Rivers State faces escalating political tensions as two factions of the State House of Assembly hold separate sittings today in Port Harcourt. This is according to Punch newspaper.
On Sunday night, the faction loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, invited a new commissioner-nominee, Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, for screening and confirmation as a State Executive Council member. This invitation was issued through a letter from the Clerk, Dr. G. M. Gillis-West.
Simultaneously, the faction led by Martin Amaewhule, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will also convene a plenary session today.
According to Punch Newspaper, the pro-Fubara lawmakers will meet in a makeshift chamber at the Government House in Port Harcourt, while the pro-Wike lawmakers will gather at the official State Assembly quarters on Aba Road, also in Port Harcourt.
This marks the first sitting of the pro-Wike group since the Court of Appeal ruling recognized them as legitimate House members.
Last week, the Court of Appeal upheld the lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike as valid members of the House of Assembly, as reported by SaharaReporters.
The ongoing controversy between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, continues to fuel political tensions in the state. The split within the State House of Assembly underscores the deepening rift and its impact on the state's governance.