In the midst of an escalating political crisis in Rivers State, the Coalition of Opposition Lawmakers has issued a stern warning to sacked legislators, advising them to refrain from making demands or giving directives to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, until the legal disputes surrounding their defection are fully resolved.
This caution follows a Supreme Court ruling, delivered just days ago, in favor of the Amaewhule-led faction, which ordered the lawmakers to resume their legislative functions. However, the opposition remains adamant that their defection case, which is still in court, should prevent them from issuing any directives.
Ikenga Ugochinyere, the spokesperson for the coalition, made the group's stance clear in an official statement. He called on the lawmakers in question to respect the legal process, particularly as their defection from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains under judicial review.
“The case challenging the legality of the pro-Wike decampment is still being heard at the Appeal Court. It is surprising that the Supreme Court has allowed these lawmakers to continue functioning, despite the unresolved issue of their defection,” Ugochinyere stated.
The political drama took a new turn on Monday when Governor Fubara was issued a 48-hour ultimatum to sign the 2025 budget. This demand was reportedly made by the same sacked lawmakers, leading to a swift rebuttal from the opposition. Ugochinyere described the ultimatum as an act of desperation, designed to secure recognition and disrupt the ongoing legal proceedings concerning their decampment.
“It’s laughable what this institution has been reduced to,” Ugochinyere said. “Imagine individuals, whose legality of decampment is still in court, attempting to direct the governor on legislative matters. It’s a clear attempt to undermine the state’s governance.”
The crisis has laid bare deep political divisions in Rivers State, with the opposition accusing the Amaewhule-led lawmakers of betraying the Constitution and abandoning the peaceful principles of the PDP in favor of the APC. According to Ugochinyere, the defection of 27 pro-Wike lawmakers to the APC was illegal and unconstitutional, and they should not be allowed to act in any official capacity until the courts make a final ruling.
“We want to remind the public that the sacked 27 lawmakers remain illegitimate. They have desecrated the Constitution, and we urge them to await the conclusion of the legal process before taking any further steps,” Ugochinyere concluded.
