Rivers Assembly Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Stall Legislative Duties

 

The Rivers State House of Assembly has raised the alarm over what it described as a clandestine move to obtain questionable court orders aimed at halting its legislative activities.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Enemi George, said the lawmakers had received credible intelligence indicating that certain individuals were scheming to secure restraining orders from some high courts within the state, but outside the Port Harcourt judicial division.

According to the assembly, those behind the alleged plot are fully aware of the constitutional provisions guiding legislative proceedings and the limits of judicial intervention in such matters.

The statement drew attention to Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which vests jurisdiction on issues relating to the tenure or vacancy of offices of governors, deputy governors and members of state assemblies, subject to constitutional provisions.

It also cited Section 188(10) of the Constitution, which expressly bars courts from entertaining or questioning proceedings or determinations of a House of Assembly or any panel set up in relation to impeachment processes.

George noted that recent judicial pronouncements, including a Court of Appeal ruling arising from a similar ex parte order granted by a Rivers State High Court, had clearly settled the matter.

“A word is enough for the wise,” the statement said, warning those involved to desist from actions capable of undermining the Constitution and the rule of law.

The assembly urged affected office holders, who have already been served notices of allegations of gross misconduct, to respond appropriately rather than resort to what it termed “subterranean moves” or media attacks against the legislature.

“All that is required is for the affected office holders to respond to the allegations item by item, instead of deploying proxies to malign the Rivers State House of Assembly,” George said.

The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to constitutionalism and due process.

Rivers State has been engulfed in a prolonged political crisis stemming from a power tussle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The dispute over control of the state’s political structure has repeatedly disrupted governance, with impeachment threats first surfacing in 2023 and re-emerging in 2025, leading to a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Although the emergency rule ended in September 2025 with the reinstatement of Governor Fubara, the collapse of a peace agreement has reignited impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct.