The Rivers State House of Assembly has raised an alarm over what it described as “secret plots” to procure court orders illegally to restrain the legislature from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.
In a statement on Sunday signed by Enemi George, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, the assembly said it had received intelligence suggesting that “certain persons” are scheming to obtain such orders from some of the high courts within the state but outside the Port Harcourt judicial division.
The assembly said those behind the alleged moves were fully aware of constitutional provisions governing legislative proceedings and the jurisdiction of courts in such matters.
It cited section 272(3) of the constitution, which it said provides that “subject to the provisions of section 251 and other provisions of the constitution, the Federal High Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the question as to whether the term of office of a member of the house of assembly of a state, governor or deputy governor has ceased or become vacant”.
The lawmakers also referenced section 188(10) of the constitution, which states that “no proceedings or determination of the panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court”.
“These persons are also fully aware of judicial pronouncements on this matter, especially recently at the court of appeal on a matter involving similar ex parte order by a Rivers state high court contrary to section 272(3) of the constitution. A word is enough for the wise,” the statement further read.
“Therefore, with the leave of the speaker of the Rivers state house of assembly, I call on those concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from acts inimical to the Constitution and the rule of law.”
George said all that was required was for the affected office holders, who had already been served with notices of allegations of gross misconduct, to respond to the allegations rather than resort to what he described as “subterranean moves to subvert the law”.
“All that is required is for the office holders who have already been duly served with the Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct to respond to them item by item rather than deploy subterranean moves to subvert the law or use proxies to malign members and the Rivers State House of Assembly in the media,” he said.
The assembly said it remained committed to constitutionalism and the rule of law.
The political crisis in Rivers has its roots in a prolonged power struggle between Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers governor, and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The dispute, which centres on control of the state’s political structure and key appointments, has repeatedly disrupted governance in the state.
Impeachment threats from a state house of assembly widely perceived to be loyal to Wike first emerged in 2023 and resurfaced in 2025, prompting Tinubu to intervene by declaring a six-month state of emergency, during which both the legislature and the executive were suspended.
Although the emergency rule ended in September 2025 with Fubara’s reinstatement, the collapse of the peace agreement has since triggered fresh impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy with the state house accusing them of gross misconduct.
