By NewsMata
The Rivers State Government has expressed its frustrations over the deliberate refusal of the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara implement the recent Supreme Court judgement on the protracted political logjam in the state.
Newsmata,com,ng recalls that the apex court had ordered the seizure of the state’s allocation from the federation account until Governor Fubara represented the 2025 appropriation bill to the recognized Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, and annulled the 2024 local government election among other orders. The lawmakers however appeared to be deliberately stalling the process thus making it impossible for the governor to do so.
On Monday, the House initiated an impeachment process against the governor and his deputy, Pro. Ngozi Nma Odu, by serving them a notice to be responded to in 14 days, citing gross misconduct.
Worried by the development, the government, at a press conference addressed by the state commissioner for information and communication, Joseph Johnson, regretted the uncooperative stance of the lawmakers loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, which it claimed, was obstructing the full implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgement and foisting a bleak future on the people.
At the press briefing after the governor was served the impeachment notice, the commissioner accused the assembly of deliberately preventing the execution of the court’s ruling.
According to Johnson, “It is now common knowledge that members of the Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions, refused to allow the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir (Dr.) Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, to fully implement the Supreme Court’s judgement on the prolonged political and legal battle that began after the failed attempt to impeach him on October 30, 2023.”
Emphasising Governor Fubara’s commitment to peace and in prioritising the interests of the people over personal or sectional considerations, Johnson said “Since this unjustified onslaught against Governor Fubara began, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to peace and his determination to put the people of Rivers State first”.
While referencing the February 28, 2025 ruling of the apex court on critical issues, including the seizure of the state’s federation revenue allocation, the annulment of the October 5, 2024, local government elections, and the re-presentation of the 2025 budget to the Amaewhule-led assembly, the information commissioner insisted that “Despite the unfavorable aspects of the Supreme Court’s judgement—particularly its unexpected comments on the contentious defection issue, which was never formally before the court—Governor Fubara has remained committed to fully implementing the ruling, no matter the challenges.”