In a decisive ruling, the Supreme Court has ordered Martin Amaewhule, a close ally of former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, to immediately resume his role as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly alongside other elected lawmakers.

The court ruled that Governor Siminalayi Fubara acted unlawfully by presenting the 2024 appropriation bill before a four-member House of Assembly, effectively sidelining 28 lawmakers and denying their constituencies proper representation. The justices held that Fubara’s actions directly violated an earlier court order requiring him to re-present the budget before a legally constituted Assembly led by Amaewhule.

Condemning Fubara’s handling of the Assembly crisis, the Supreme Court described his actions against the 28 lawmakers—who were accused of defecting—as “an act of brigandage and dictatorship” designed to obstruct the House from performing its constitutional duties. The court also criticized the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, calling it an abuse of executive power intended to cripple legislative activities.

Local Government Elections Declared Invalid

In another major ruling, the Supreme Court nullified the Rivers State local government elections conducted on October 5, 2024, citing multiple violations of the Electoral Act. The judgment upheld an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), overturning a previous decision by the Court of Appeal that had validated the elections.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Jamilu Tukur ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) failed to comply with key legal provisions, including continuing voter registration even after announcing the election date—an act deemed a “clear violation” of Section 150 of the Electoral Act. The court also reinstated an earlier Federal High Court ruling that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing voter registers for the election.

These rulings mark a significant shift in Rivers State’s political landscape, intensifying the ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Wike. As tensions rise, all eyes are on the next moves of both political camps.