Rivers Assembly elects a Pro-Fubara Lawmaker New Speaker
The political turmoil in Rivers State has taken a dramatic turn, with a new crisis erupting within the state’s House of Assembly. In a move that further deepens the ongoing power struggle, some lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have elected Victor Oko-Jumbo as their new Speaker.
According to reports, Oko-Jumbo, who represents the Bonny constituency, was elected during a plenary session held on Wednesday morning. The election took place amidst the ongoing crisis that has plagued the Assembly, with lawmakers divided in their allegiances between the governor and the opposing camp led by the former Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.
Oko-Jumbo was one of the four lawmakers who initially sided with Fubara in the wake of the political crisis, electing Edison Ehie as their Speaker. However, Ehie later resigned from the Assembly and was appointed as the Governor’s Chief of Staff.
In a symbolic display of authority, Oko-Jumbo was led to the plenary session with the original mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Sergeant-at-Arms, David Wariboko, who had presided over the last sitting of the Amaewhule-led Assembly.
During his acceptance speech, Oko-Jumbo thanked the members for electing him as the new Speaker and called on the executive, judiciary, and the public to disregard any laws purportedly enacted by the Amaewhule-led Assembly, describing their actions as “an exercise in futility.”
Oko-Jumbo also addressed the defection of 25 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 11, 2023, which he claimed had rendered their actions null and void. He urged Governor Fubara to cease all dealings with the defected lawmakers, asserting that they no longer hold any legitimate authority.
The newly elected Speaker declared that his Rivers Assembly is the legally and constitutionally recognized body, and he expressed readiness to work with Governor Fubara in moving Rivers State forward.
This latest development has further escalated the political crisis in Rivers State, with two factions now claiming legitimacy over the state’s legislative body. The standoff between the pro-Fubara camp and the opposing faction led by Amaewhule has reached a new level of intensity, with the potential for further upheaval and legal battles.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the next moves by both camps, as well as the response from the executive and judicial branches of government. The crisis has exposed deep divisions within the state’s political landscape and highlights the urgent need for resolution and reconciliation to restore stability and effective governance in Rivers State.
Reference
Fresh Crisis Rocks Rivers Assembly, Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Elect Oko-Jumbo Speaker published in Channels.