(DDM) – The Rivers State House of Assembly is set to resume plenary on Thursday morning, signaling the first return to legislative activity since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lifted the state of emergency rule that paralyzed democratic governance for six months.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the lawmakers, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, will hold their sitting at the Assembly Residential Complex situated along the Aba–Port Harcourt Expressway.
The complex, which was originally built to house members during politically sensitive times, has now become a stronghold for the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Amaewhule-led faction.
The lawmakers reportedly returned to the state several days before the formal expiration of emergency rule and immediately settled within the residential complex, effectively cutting themselves off from external political interference ahead of Thursday’s session.
The Assembly’s return has heightened political tension across Rivers. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was reinstated after months of being side-lined, is yet to fully reassert his authority.
His political troubles began shortly after he assumed office in 2023, following a fallout with his predecessor, former Governor and now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis escalated into open hostility as two rival factions emerged in the Assembly, one loyal to Fubara and the other firmly under Wike’s influence.
When violence erupted during legislative sessions last year, the federal government declared emergency rule, suspending elected institutions and appointing Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator.
Though civilian rule has technically been restored, political observers believe the resumption of the Assembly could reignite factional battles rather than resolve them.
Analysts say the dominance of Amaewhule’s faction suggests Wike’s camp remains firmly in control of legislative power, potentially limiting Fubara’s freedom to govern independently.
The stakes are high because Rivers State is not only a political heavyweight in the South-South but also Nigeria’s economic lifeline, generating significant oil and gas revenues.
A destabilized Assembly risks stalling development projects, disrupting budgetary allocations, and weakening investor confidence in Port Harcourt and beyond.
Already, business leaders and civil society groups are appealing for dialogue between the governor and the lawmakers to ensure that citizens do not continue to suffer from prolonged political distractions.
Civil servants, contractors, and students were among those who endured severe delays in salary payments, halted infrastructure projects, and administrative bottlenecks during the state of emergency.
Meanwhile, speculation about Wike’s enduring influence continues to dominate political discussions. Some insiders claim that the resumption of the Assembly under Amaewhule is a strategic move by Wike’s loyalists to consolidate control, while others insist that Fubara may still find a pathway to reconcile and regain some authority.
The Thursday sitting will therefore be more than a legislative routine. It will be a test of Rivers’ fragile democracy, a measure of Tinubu’s balancing act in South-South politics, and a signal to Nigerians about whether Rivers will move forward with unity or remain trapped in elite rivalry.
For Rivers citizens, weary of endless political battles, all eyes are on the Assembly chamber, where the first gavel strike may either herald peace or reopen old wounds.
The post Rivers Assembly reconvenes as Fubara–Wike feud threatens fragile peac
DDM News
first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
