At least, eight members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have impeached the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and his deputy, Dumle Maol.
They also disclosed the suspension of the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Samuel Chibuzor Amadi and directed the governor to appoint an Acting Chief Judge.
The lawmakers elected the impeached Leader of the House, Hon. Edison Ehie as the new Speaker, after series of meeting in one of the buildings at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
However, Governor Fubara has congratulated Hon. Ehie, who was deputy speaker of the 9th House of Assembly, on his emergence as the new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Rivers state chapter, Chijioke Ihunwo also congratulated Ehie on his emergence as the speaker.
Reacting, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Edwin Clark blamed Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Fubara’s predecessor, for the governor’s ordeal.
“I have been greatly disturbed by the reported developments in Rivers state in the last 24 hours.
“I have been reliably informed that there is a plot to unlawfully remove the Governor of Rivers state, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, who has spent only about 5 months in office.
“I understand the sad episode is being orchestrated by the immediate past Governor of Rivers state and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
“And that the intention is to remove the Governor, force his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu to resign, and install the Speaker of the House of Assembly, another Ikwerre person as the governor of the State.
“Let me warn strongly, we won’t allow that to happen,” he said.
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