Edison Ehie, a former factional speaker of the Rivers house of assembly, says he was offered money to impeach Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

Ehie, who is currently chief of staff to Fubara, was one of the lawmakers loyal to the governor.

He became speaker in October 2023, a period when legislators loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), made an attempt to impeach Fubara.

The impeachment proceedings were halted after President Bola Tinubu brokered a peace deal.

The rift between Fubara and Wike has polarised the Rivers assembly.

Speaking at an event in the Ahoada east area of Rivers, Ehie said he rejected the money he was offered to oust Fubara.

“They invited me, your son, to impeach the governor and I told them clearly, I was not interested,” Daily Trust quoted him as saying.

“They gave me all the money that was hidden before, which I rejected. And because I refused, they conspired and declared me wanted.”

On Friday, Fubara gazetted an executive order moving the sitting of the state house of assembly to the government house.

Last week, a court restrained Martin Amaewhule and 25 members of the assembly from parading themselves as speaker and legislators respectively.

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, has gazetted an executive order moving the sitting of the state house assembly to the government house.

The executive order 001 is dated October 30, 2023.

The governor said the sitting of the state parliament will henceforth take place at the government house until the assembly complex, which was affected by fire in October, is renovated.

“That on the 29th day of October 2023, a fire incident occasioned by unknown persons burned and damaged the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the gazette reads.

“That the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly in its present state is unsafe and constitutes a threat to the lives of the staff and the Honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and thus not conducive for the business and proceeding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That it is expedient to carry out urgent repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the burnt and damaged chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That it is further reasonable to ensure that the business and proceedings of the Rivers State House of Assembly are not impeded and frustrated.

“Now therefore, I, sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State this 30th day of October 2023, pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) hereby issue, order, and direct that all proceedings and business of Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the Auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt until the repairs, renovation or reconstruction of the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly are completed.”

The gazetting of the order comes in the wake of a renewed political crisis in the oil-rich state.

THE CRISIS

The Rivers house of assembly has been polarised since 2023 following the rift between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

In December, 27 members of the assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly, after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.

Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor.

The lawmakers in the Awaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

The political crisis took a new twist on Wednesday after Victor Jumbo, a lawmaker representing the Bonny state constituency, was elected factional.

On Friday, a state high court in Port Harcourt granted an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule from acting as a speaker of the Rivers assembly.

Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.

The motion ex parte was filed by Jumbo and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy — loyal to Fubara.

There are rumours that Fubara is plotting to demolish the state assembly quarters in Port Harcourt.

Amid the speculations, some armed police officers on Friday barricaded the two entrances to assembly quarters.

Emeka Amadi, clerk of the Rivers state house of assembly, says there has been no change in the leadership of the legislature.

In a statement issued on May 8, Amadi said Martin Amaewhule remains the recognised speaker of the assembly.

On Wednesday, Victor Jumbo, lawmaker representing Bonny constituency, was elected speaker by lawmakers loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

The Rivers house of assembly has been polarised since 2023, following the rift between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

In December, 27 lawmakers of the assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One of the lawmakers, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly, after his removal as house leader by members led by Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.

Edison later resigned as lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor.

The lawmakers in the Awaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

On Monday, Fubara said members of the house of assembly owe their existence to him.

The Rivers governor said members of the Awaewhule-led faction do not “exist,” adding that he decided to “give them a floating” through a peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu.

FUBARA VISITS ASSEMBLY

On Thursday Amaewhule alleged that Fubara is planning to demolish the assembly complex, after the governor visited the legislature.

Speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Amaewhule said the complex does not require renovation.

But the Rivers governor said he visited the complex to see if there would be some renovation after the election of a new speaker.

CLERK DISOWNS NEW SPEAKER

In his statement, Amadi said there was no change in the leadership structure of the house as Amaewhule, Dumle Maol, and Major Jack remain speaker, deputy speaker, and majority leader respectively.

“The attention of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been drawn to reports in the electronic and print media that there was a leadership change in the Rivers State House of Assembly today, the 8th day of May 2024,” the statement reads.

“As the Clerk of the Rivers State House and one who administered the Oath of membership and office to all members and a custodian of all records of the House, I write to state the following.

“That there was no change in the leadership of the House today and Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule DSSRS remains the Speaker of the House while Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol DSSRS and Hon. Major Jack DSSRS remains Deputy Speaker and Majority Leader respectively.

“That apart from the seat of Khana Constituency Il which was declared vacant because of death of the member who represented the constituency, no other seat has been declared vacant.

“That there is a subsisting judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction in Suit no FHC/ABI/CS/1613/2023 in which the Court among other orders “granted an ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Governor of Rivers State (11th Defendant) whether by himself or by his agents and or hirelings or in any manner howsoever from impeding or frustrating the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of the 2nd Plaintiff as the Speaker of the said House in the performance of their functions including holding of meetings and the transacting of the business of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Adolphus Orubimie Timothy were suspended on the 30th of October 2023 pursuant to the Rules of the House and their suspension is yet to be lifted and they cannot lay claim to be officers of the House.

“That the House is still conducting legislative business in line with the Standing Orders of the House and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered.

“That the good people of Rivers State and the Nigerian Federation should discountenance any media report purporting any recent change in leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”