The political feud in Rivers State will continue exxept the Supreme Court intervene, as in a demonstration of legislative power, the Pro- Wike led Rivers Assembly has overriden Governor Siminalayi Fubara refusal to assent to three critcal bills.
The contested bills which were presented to Gov Fubara over a month ago are: ‘The Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) (Amendment) Bill, The Rivers Electricity Market Bill, and The Rivers State Commissions of Inquiry Bill, 2024—have now been enacted into law through the legislature’s invocation of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
This constitutional provision empowers the Assembly to bypass the Governor’s assent if withheld.
During the 94th Legislative Sitting, Speaker Amaewhule condemned Governor Fubara’s alleged inaction, accusing him of dereliction of duty and a flagrant disregard for the state’s progress.
“The state must move forward,” Amaewhule declared emphatically. “We cannot allow the Governor’s indolence and ineptitude to hold us back.”
He further lambasted the Governor, accusing him of operating as though he were above the Constitution, the judiciary, and the state’s legal framework.
The Speaker framed the override as an essential correction to what he described as the Governor’s overreach and neglect.
This development marks yet another chapter in the escalating conflict between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Governor Fubara.
Notably, the legislature had previously overridden the Governor’s assent on four other bills in 2024, signaling a persistent struggle for dominance between the two arms of government.
While the Speaker hailed this latest action as a victory for the legislative arm, it also highlights a governance crisis that threatens to undermine the state’s democratic principles and progress.
The overriding of the Governor’s assent underscores a legislature unwilling to compromise on its constitutional mandate, even as tensions with the executive escalate to unprecedented levels.
This bold assertion of legislative independence raises questions about the future of leadership in Rivers State, with both the Assembly and the Governor locked in a high-stakes battle that could reshape the political landscape.
Governor Fubara has been embroiled in a political rivalry with Wike , resulting in a tense supremacy battle within the state.
Ahamewule-Fubara
Factional Rivers Assembly Speaker, Martins Amaewhule and Governor Siminlalayi Fubara
Commenting on the three bills, which were represented by the Majority Leader, Major Jack, and debated by members, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, cited Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
He stated that this provision empowers the House to override the Governor if he withholds assent.
When the Speaker put the question to a vote, members unanimously voted in favour of overriding the Governor’s veto.