Rivers Assembly gives Governor Fubara 48-hour ultimatum over unscreened appointments
Lawmakers demand immediate submission of commissioner nominees or risk political standoff
By our reporter
Rivers State is currently facing a fresh wave of political tension as the State House of Assembly has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, demanding he submit a new list of commissioner nominees and other statutory appointments for screening and confirmation.
In a formal communication to the governor, the lawmakers accused him of violating constitutional provisions by appointing and swearing in individuals— including commissioners, the Attorney-General, and members of key commissions—without securing the mandatory legislative approval. According to the Assembly, these actions amount to a deliberate breach of constitutional and legal procedures governing public office appointments.
The Assembly referenced specific sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including Sections 192(2), 192(6), and 195(1), which explicitly require that such appointments be confirmed by the legislature before the appointees can assume office. The lawmakers allege that from May to October 2024, Governor Fubara swore in at least 19 individuals as commissioners without presenting their names to the Assembly for screening.
Some of the appointees named in the letter include Charles O. Beke, Collins Onunwo, Solomon Eke, Peter Medee, and Elloka Tasie-Amadi. The appointment of Dagogo Iboroma as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice was also highlighted, with the lawmakers noting that his name was never forwarded to the Assembly, making his appointment unconstitutional.
The Assembly also took issue with the governor’s recent appointments to the Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement and the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission. These appointments, they argue, are in direct violation of existing state laws, including the Rivers State Public Procurement Law (No. 4 of 2008) and the Rivers State Local Government Law (No. 5 of 2018), which require prior legislative confirmation.
Describing the governor’s actions as a clear disregard for due process, the lawmakers warned that such conduct undermines the rule of law and disrupts the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government. They emphasized that the principle of checks and balances, which is central to democratic governance, is being eroded under the current administration.
In their demand, the Assembly insisted that Governor Fubara must submit a fresh list of commissioner nominees and other appointments that require legislative confirmation within 48 hours. They also called for the immediate removal of all individuals who were appointed without the Assembly’s approval, declaring those appointments null and void.
This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between Governor Fubara and the State House of Assembly, which is largely perceived to be aligned with former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The rift between both camps has led to repeated clashes and political instability since Fubara assumed office in 2023.
As of the time of filing this report, the governor has not issued any official response to the Assembly’s ultimatum.
