Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has dismissed all commissioners and public officers whose appointments were invalidated by a Supreme Court judgment, a move that is the latest development in the state’s protracted political crisis.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced the decision during a valedictory session held with members of his cabinet at the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Supreme Court’s Impact
The governor’s action is a direct response to a Supreme Court judgment delivered in February of this year, which affirmed the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly as the only authentic and legally constituted legislative body in the state.
The court’s verdict essentially nullified all decisions made by the rival faction, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, which was loyal to Governor Fubara. Since this faction was responsible for the initial screening and approval of Mr Fubara’s cabinet members, the Supreme Court ruling rendered their appointments invalid in the eyes of the law.
Background to the Crisis
The sacking of the officials is a significant fallout of the long-running political feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over control of the state’s political structure. The Amaewhule-led House of Assembly faction remains loyal to the FCT Minister.
The political crisis had previously led to the declaration of an emergency rule in the state by President Bola Tinubu on 18th March, which involved the six-month suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislators. President Tinubu only lifted the emergency rule hours before the six months elapsed, allowing the elected officials to resume their duties in late September.
Upon resumption, the Amaewhule-led Assembly immediately called on Governor Fubara to submit a new list of commissioner-nominees to them for screening and confirmation, a necessary step following the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the law.
During the valedictory session, the governor thanked the outgoing cabinet members for their service and reiterated his commitment to serving Rivers State with “renewed vigour.”
