Despite Political Challenges, We’ll Emerge Stronger in Rivers, Governor Fubara Boasts

•Assembly issues arrest warrant on RSIEC chairman, other commissioners, three resign 

•APC tells gov to resign now or be impeached

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, said in spite of the political issues confronting his administration, the state would emerge stronger eventually.

Fubara spoke yesterday at the inauguration of the palace of Nyeweali Akpor Kingdom and a residential quarter for the king, Eze Levi Oriebe, built and furnished by his administration, at Ozuoba in Obi/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

However, the state House of Assembly issued a warrant of arrest on the chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli, and other commissioners of the electoral body.

Three commissioners of RSIEC resigned, citing the recent Supreme Court judgement on the conduct of the October 5, 2024 local government elections in the state.

At the same time, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, led by Chief Tony Okocha, urged Fubara to resign or face impeachment by the House of Assembly.

Fubara urged Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding in the overall interest of all, just as he advised his supporters not to be disheartened by recent turn of events in the state but rather cheer up.

Fubara stated, “God does not start a thing, by enthroning his administration, and allow it to be truncated half-way in the journey.”

He regretted the attempt to disrupt governance in the state and warned against acts of lawlessness.

The governor stated, “I want to say to our teeming supporters, I know some of you; your spirits are high, some of you, your spirits are low. But, I want to assure you, one important fact of life: God does not start a thing and end halfway.

“It doesn’t matter what the situation might be today, I assure you that we will come up again stronger and better. Continue to follow my footsteps, and that footstep remains the path of peace. We need it because if anything happens, we are the greatest losers.

“Our concern for this state is not because of our own profit, but the total well-being of Rivers State. So, I appeal to everyone of you, be law abiding. I will not encourage any act of disobedience or any act of violence. But that is not to say that we will support evil. We will never support evil.”

Rivers Assembly Issues Warrant of Arrest on RSIEC Chairman, Other Commissioners

Rivers State House of Assembly issued a warrant of arrest on the chairman of RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retired), and other commissioners of the electoral body.

That was sequel to the RSIEC chairman’s failure to respond to a summon by the lawmakers, after the leadership of the electoral body was given 48-hours ultimatum to appear before the Assembly or face arrest.

The ultimatum was later extended to 72 hours, which elapsed yesterday.

Announcing the warrant of arrest, the Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, stated that the move was pursuant to Section 129 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which granted the Assembly the power to summon individuals and organisations to appear before it.

The Assembly explained that the commission’s leadership was invited to explain how they generated funds to conduct the October 5, 2024 local government polls.

The legislature reached the resolution after three commissioners of the electoral body, who resigned their appointments, appeared before it to explain their roles.

House Leader, Major Jack, emphasised that the refusal of Enebeli and other members of the commission to honour the summon was unconstitutional.

Amaewhule decried the situation where those who appeared before the house for screening and confirmation, when they were seeking to be appointed, now treated summons from the same house with levity.

He added, “The house is empowered by Section128 of the constitution to conduct investigation within our legislative competence.

“Therefore retired Justice Enebeli and his cohorts must be brought to the house for questioning on the billions of Rivers people’s money they squandered in the guise of local government elections.”

Two commissioners, Lazberry Nnah and Professor Simeon Weli, had last week tendered their resignations to the chairman, citing the Supreme Court judgement, which invalidated the council elections. Another Commissioner, Ibierembo Everlyn Thompson, also resigned his position on the sane grounds.

In the resignation letter dated March 9, 2025 and addressed to the chairman of RSIEC, Thompson said, “I write to formally resign my appointment as a member of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission in charge of transport, logistics and stores.

“This decision was necessitated by the recent judgement from the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which annulled the October 5, 2024 local government councils elections in the Rivers State, and the subsequent development within the state.

“I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve, as well as the valuable experiences and insights gained during my tenure. I wish the commission the very best.”

APC to Fubara: Resign or Be Impeached

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, led by Chief Tony Okocha, urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resign or face impeachment by the legislature. This came three days after Fubara sent a letter of invitation to the 27 lawmakers, inviting them for a reconciliation meeting.

Addressing journalists at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Okocha said the governor should resign honourably or face the embarrassment of impeachment by the lawmakers. He stated that the governor had a long opportunity for reconciliation following President Bola Tinubu’s peace meeting and calls by others for peace and reconciliation with the lawmakers.

He claimed Fubara jettisoned such counsel and followed some misleading advice.

Okocha, who stated that the governor was already sitting on a “keg of gun powder”, said, “As a political party, we are today advising the governor that there are two options: resign honourably or be impeached.

“That is the position of the All Progressives Congress. He has disrespected Mr. President and we told him that we cannot be here and have him disrespect Mr. President.

“The offences are there. The Supreme Court has agreed and even provided us with more evidences. The House of Assembly does not need to set up any committee again to investigate him. Forty-eight hours is too much to give him as ultimatum. He should just resign honourably.”

Group Urges Fubara to Sue 27 Lawmakers

A non-governmental organisation, Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership, gave Fubara a seven-day notice to file a legal action against Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Awaewhule, and 26 other lawmakers for lying on oath that they never defected from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter to the governor, yesterday, President General of the group, Mr Chizy Enyi, gave the governor seven days to prosecute the lawmakers.

“I give you seven days’ pre-action notice to prosecute the underlisted persons, who are officials of Rivers State Government who lied on oath and thereby committed perjury,” Enyi said.

Enyi,  a legal practitioner, assured the governor that all the necessary documents relating to the commission of the crime, when, where, and date, “to enable you to prove your case beyond reasonable doubt, are hereby attached.”

He said the essence of the letter “is to let you know that we cannot fold our hands and see those entrusted with leadership positions to be lying on oath and thereby betraying their positions of trust and abusing the confidence reposed on them”.

Enyi added, “We wish to let you know that if you fail within these seven days to initiate criminal prosecution against the above-mentioned persons, we will apply to the court for an order of mandamus to compel you to do so.”