The Supreme Court has ruled against Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in his attempt to challenge the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The court’s decision on Monday is seen as a major victory for former Governor Nyesom Wike and his loyalists in the state’s ongoing political struggle.
A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed the case after Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali (SAN), withdrew the appeal. The court also ordered the governor to pay N2 million to the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.
The Dispute Over the Assembly Leadership
The crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly has been brewing for months, with lawmakers divided into two factions. One group, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, is loyal to Wike, while the other, led by Edison Ehie, supports Governor Fubara.
The conflict reached its peak when Fubara presented the 2024 state budget to just four members of the 31-member Assembly. His decision was challenged in court, and both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled against him, declaring that his actions were unconstitutional.
On October 10, 2024, the Court of Appeal strongly criticized Fubara for ignoring the law. The court ruled that his decision to present the budget to only four lawmakers violated the 1999 Constitution, which requires at least one-third of the Assembly members to be present before legislative decisions can be made.
The court noted that the governor acted hastily by submitting the budget to the four members, who then debated and passed it into law within a few hours. It ruled that four out of 31 lawmakers could not legally form a quorum to conduct legislative business.
Fubara’s Last Attempt Fails
After losing at the lower courts, Fubara took his case to the Supreme Court, hoping to reverse the judgment. He argued that the Amaewhule-led faction had lost its legitimacy after defecting from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the courts found that Fubara did not provide enough evidence to prove their defection. Without proof, his move to present the budget to just four lawmakers was deemed unlawful.
When the Supreme Court convened on Monday, Fubara’s lawyer, Ali, informed the judges that the governor had decided to withdraw the appeal. He explained that a notice of withdrawal had been filed on February 6, stating that the case was no longer relevant.
None of the 17 respondents, including the Rivers State House of Assembly and the National Assembly, opposed the withdrawal. However, their lawyers, J.B. Daudu (SAN) and Wole Olanipekun (SAN), requested that Fubara pay N2 million in legal costs.
Justice Abba-Aji agreed and dismissed the case, ruling in favor of the Amaewhule-led faction.
Wike’s Political Grip Remains Firm
The Supreme Court’s decision confirms the authority of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly. This ruling strengthens Wike’s hold on the state’s politics and delivers another setback to Fubara’s attempts to consolidate power.
Although this judgment settles the legal aspect of the crisis, political tensions in Rivers State remain high. However, one thing is clear: Wike’s influence continues to shape the political direction of the state. The outcome of this case will likely have a lasting impact on the state’s leadership and governance in the coming months.
