Rivers Assembly Overrides Fubara, Disobey Court Order, Passes Bill Into Law

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday passed the local government Amendment Bill into law.

Naija News reports that the lawmakers passed the bill without the assent of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The House, led by its Speaker, Hon Martin Amaewhule, made the decision at its 159th Legislative sitting held at the Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt.

Recall that on March 13, 2024, the House passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill and forwarded same to Fubara for assent, which the governor declined.

The Assembly also defied the state High Court’s order directing the status quo on the issue of elongating the tenure of elected local government officials, which formed part of the amendment.

A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by the media aide to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, reads, “Determined to perform its Constitutional duties, the Bill was represented by the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack and debated upon by Members.

“Thereafter, the House in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered, which empowers the House to override the Governor, where he withholds his assent; the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule put the question, and with a two-thirds majority vote, the House agreed to override the Governor and passed the Bill into Law. ”

The House was said to have also screened and confirmed members of the chairman and other members of the Assembly Service Commission in the spirit of the new law.

Those screened and confirmed for the position of Chairman and Members of the Assembly Service Commission were Sampson Worlu as Chairman, Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple, Mrs Blessing Belema Derefaka, Mr Gbaranen Robinson, and Madam Dorcas Amos as Members.