The Rivers State Governor is standing firm in his decision not to acknowledge the faction of the state House of Assembly led by a certain individual, despite pressure from the Rivers National Assembly Caucus. The caucus visited the said individual and urged the Governor to adhere to a Court of Appeal judgment that validated the individual and 26 lawmakers as the only legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Lawmakers expressed disappointment with the Governor’s handling of the situation, accusing him of distorting facts and court decisions. They criticized the engagement of Senior Advocates, including Femi Falana, to allegedly misrepresent judicial rulings.
The lawmakers cautioned against misinterpreting court judgments and accused Falana of spreading false information about judicial rulings and lawmakers’ defection. They emphasized that failure to implement the court judgment would be considered contempt of court.
The lawmakers also questioned the legitimacy of the Governor’s recent appointments and warned of impending scrutiny into the handling of state funds. The Speaker of the House of Assembly declared that individuals holding certain positions were impostors as they had not been confirmed by the Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications refuted the lawmakers’ claims, stating that the individuals in question ceased to be lawmakers after defecting from one political party to another, resulting in the forfeiture of their seats. The Commissioner reiterated the Governor’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting the judiciary.