The political landscape in Rivers State witnessed significant developments as the State House of Assembly firmly decided to continue its legislative sittings at the auditorium within the Assembly quarters. This crucial resolution was passed during the 39th Legislative Sitting of the 3rd Session of the Tenth Assembly, a session that was also marked by a major political realignment.
Defection and Constitutional Justification
The sitting on Friday, December 5, 2025, saw a dramatic shift in power as 17 members of the House elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The list of defectors includes prominent leadership figures such as the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, and the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack.
The motion to reaffirm the use of the quarters' auditorium was moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart. She anchored the decision on Section 101 of the Nigerian Constitution, which grants the House the authority to regulate its own procedures. Speaker Martin Amaewhule echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that "what makes an Assembly is the people and not the building."
Clash with Governor's Plan for New Complex
This parliamentary decision appears to directly counter the plans of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Governor Fubara had earlier expressed confidence that he would present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to lawmakers in the newly reconstructed Rivers State House of Assembly Complex. After an inspection tour on Monday, November 24, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to completing the project by the end of December 2025.
He stated that once the main chamber is ready, the legislature would take over responsibility for finishing the rest of the complex. The Assembly's latest resolution, however, sets the stage for a potential conflict over the venue for the crucial budget presentation.
Leadership Reshuffle and Unresolved Cabinet Issues
Following the mass defection, the APC now holds the majority in the House. The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, praised President Bola Tinubu's leadership and pledged the group's support to the APC and the President. Meanwhile, the PDP, now the minority party, constituted its own leadership officers.
In another significant development, the House, through its Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, reminded the public of its pending request to Governor Fubara. The Assembly has repeatedly urged the governor to forward a list of Commissioner-nominees for screening and confirmation, a constitutional requirement that remains unfulfilled, leaving the state without a full executive cabinet.
The House has adjourned its sitting until January 26, 2026, leaving a period of uncertainty over the budget presentation process and the ongoing political tensions between the legislative and executive arms of government in Rivers State.
