Supreme Court Affirms Wike’s Ally, Amaewhule, as Rivers Assembly Speaker

• The Supreme Court dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal challenging Martin Amaewhule’s leadership of the Rivers Assembly and ordered Fubara to pay N2 million in costs
• The ruling follows a political crisis stemming from the defection of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers and a dispute over the 2024 budget

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara challenging the leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly under Martin Amaewhule.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, rejected the appeal and imposed a ₦2 million cost against Fubara, payable to the Rivers Assembly and Amaewhule.

The ruling came after Fubara’s counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), withdrew the case.

This decision marks another chapter in the prolonged political crisis that has plagued the Rivers Assembly since 2023.

The crisis began in October 2023 when 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Their defection led to a split in the Assembly, with Amaewhule leading one faction while a rival group, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo and loyal to Fubara, emerged.

Since the conflict began, Governor Fubara has aligned exclusively with the Oko-Jumbo faction.

In October 2024, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld an earlier Federal High Court ruling that nullified the ₦800 billion 2024 budget passed by the Oko-Jumbo-led faction.

The appellate court dismissed Fubara’s appeal and ruled against the passage of the Rivers State 2024 budget.