The political crisis in Rivers State deepens as the faction of the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, demands the removal of 19 commissioners and political appointees, claiming they were not properly screened.
However, some Nigerians argue that the lawmakers themselves are in violation of the Constitution due to their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and no longer represent the Rivers assembly.
In a letter to the State Governor on Wednesday, Amaewhule insisted that the appointments violated constitutional provisions and called for a fresh list of nominees for screening and confirmation. He specifically cited the appointment of Dagogo Iboroma as Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, arguing that it breached Sections 192(2), 192(5), and 195(1) of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmakers gave the Governor a 48-hour ultimatum to comply.
However, Commissioner for Environment Sydney Tambari dismissed the demand as baseless and politically motivated. He accused the lawmakers of hypocrisy, pointing out that their own defection from the PDP to the APC was unconstitutional.
Tambari stated, “I was screened by Edison Ehie, who was duly recognized by a competent court as the legitimate Speaker of the House. At that time, these lawmakers had already defected from the PDP to the APC, which violates the Constitution and makes their claims illegitimate.”
According to Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, lawmakers who defect from the party under which they were elected must vacate their seats unless there is a division in the party. Critics argue that Amaewhule and his faction have lost their legal standing, making their demands for the dismissal of commissioners contradictory.
With both sides accusing each other of constitutional violations, the power struggle in Rivers State continues, raising concerns about governance and political stability in the state.
