The political tensions in Rivers State have deepened, with a faction of the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, launching its own investigation into the October 7, 2024, attacks on local government secretariats. This move challenges Governor Siminalayi Fubara's earlier efforts, which included establishing a seven-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the same incidents.
The violent attacks, which escalated political instability in the state, involved riots during the takeover of secretariats by newly inaugurated local government chairmen. While Governor Fubara has vowed to implement the recommendations from the Judicial Commission's report, the parallel investigation by the pro-Wike lawmakers signals a deep divide within the state’s political landscape.
This conflict underscores a loyalty split among political leaders in Rivers, with the Assembly faction aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who is at odds with Governor Fubara. The Assembly's reliance on Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution to justify its independent investigation highlights the legal complexity of the situation.
As both sides proceed with their investigations, the outcomes may have significant implications for governance, accountability, and political unity in Rivers State.