Fubara Relocates Rivers Assembly to Govt House Amidst Crisis

iexclusivenews – Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has officially relocated the state’s House of Assembly to the Auditorium, Admin Block of the Government House in Port Harcourt, citing the burned chamber as reason for the move.

The Executive Order, dated December 14, 2023, comes after the assembly was set on fire in October, amidst speculations of impeachment proceedings against the governor.

A Crisis Unfolds

The crisis in Rivers State took a new turn when Chief Tony Okocha, Chairman of the caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers, called on lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to impeach Governor Fubara.

The Fubara faction of the assembly, which had gone underground after President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, bounced back with a new speaker.

However, a Rivers court has barred the pro-Wike lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the assembly.

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Fubara, Wike: Who is in charge of Rivers State Now?

Temporary Relocation

In the gazette, Governor Fubara stated that the current state of the chamber is unsafe and poses a threat to the lives of legislators and their staff.

He directed that all proceedings and business of the Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt, until the repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the chambers are complete.

Executive Order

The Executive Order, issued on October 30, 2023, reads: “Now, therefore, I, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, this 30th Day of October, 2023, pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria hereby issue, order and direct that all proceedings and business of the Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt, until the repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the chambers of Rivers State House of Assembly.”