Tension is mounting in Rivers State as two factions of the State House of Assembly are holding parallel sittings amidst a heavy security presence.

According to CHANNELS TELEVISION, lawmakers began arriving at the House of Assembly Quarters early this morning, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing political crisis.

Speaker Martin Amaewhule was seen entering the chamber to preside over one sitting, while Victor Oko-Jumbo led a separate session aimed at screening a commissioner nominee.

Oko-Jumbo's faction, loyal to State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is holding its sitting in an improvised chamber at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the Amaewhule-led legislators, who are aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike, are meeting at the official State Assembly quarters along Aba Road.

The division has been exacerbated by a recent letter from the Clerk of the Oko-Jumbo-led House, Dr. G. M. Gillis-West, inviting commissioner-nominee Emmanuel Frank-Fubara for screening and confirmation. This letter further solidified the rift between the factions, each claiming legitimacy.

The situation is particularly volatile following the bombing of the State House of Assembly Complex on Moscow Road in October 2023.

This incident was followed by an attempt by 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to impeach Governor Fubara. These lawmakers later defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), intensifying the political conflict.

The Court of Appeal's recent judgment recognizing the pro-Wike legislators as members of the House added another layer of complexity.

Today marks the first sitting of the Amaewhule-led faction since that judgment.

On Saturday, members of the National Assembly from Rivers State called for adherence to the rule of law and prioritizing peace over personal interests.

Ex-lawmakers, including those who served in the 3rd Republic, met with Governor Fubara and emphasized the importance of unity and legal integrity in the state.

Bernard Mikko, a former House of Representatives member for Khana/Gokana, read the group's communique, which firmly rejected calls for a state of emergency and any attempts to disrespect the constitutional terms of elected council chairmen.

"Regardless of our political affiliations, we stand united in our unwavering belief and conviction that the unity, peace, and progress of Rivers State are paramount and non-negotiable.

"We reaffirm our absolute commitment to the rule of law, a cornerstone of democracy that ensures no one, including the government, is above the law. We uphold this fundamental principle, which safeguards justice, equality, and accountability for all," Mikko stated.