Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state has recognized Martins Amaewhule, factional speaker who is loyal to former governor Nyesom Wike as the authentic speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly.
This was observed on page 5 of the brochure for the state banquet which held at the Rivers State government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Amaewhule Addressed As Speaker On The Rivers Banquet Brochure
Amaewhule, one of those who defected to the APC from the PDP and a core loyalist of Wike, was addressed as Speaker of the Rivers state Assembly on the banquet brochure, signaling an end to the battle for the seat following crisis that erupted between Fubara and his predecessor.
Amaewhule, along with 26 house members loyal to Wike, had supervised an impeachment process against Fubara leading to the fallout. The house was then dividing with 6 members siding with Fubara and 27 members acting on the directives of Wike.
Recall that Edison Ehie, a loyalist of governor Fubara, who was earlier declared the substantive speaker by a high court in Port Harcourt, had resigned his position as speaker of the state assembly in a letter addressed to the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on December 31, 2023. Ehie was subsequently appointed as Chief of Staff by Fubara.
Recall that REPORT AFRIQUE earlier reported on how President Tinubu forced a truce on Fubara and Wike with a caveat that Fubara must reinstate all resigned commissioners and re-absorbed all defected house members, and give them the freedom to operate with adequate funding. A position that caused outrage among Fubara’s loyalists in the state and leading to multiple protests.
Despite the political tension, Fubara said he would abide by the resolutions presented by President Tinubu and that he was committed to a lasting peace in the state.
In a new year video that went viral online, Fubara taunted his detractors saying “they have failed” to remove him from office.
