The House will formally form an interim committee on Tuesday to undertake the legislative functions of the Rivers State Capitol.
The move comes after the deterioration of relations between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the governor of the state assembly on March 18, 2025, after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich country.
Tinubu declared emergency rules cited by Article 305 of the 1999 Constitution (Amendment), which resulted in the moratorium on Governor Fobara and the state legislature for the first six months.
The president also appointed former Navy Chief of Staff Deputy Admiral ibokette ibasas the sole administrator of Rivers State.
Although the president’s intervention has been widely criticized, some have questioned the legitimacy of a democratically elected governor, both of the National Assembly have approved emergency rules. They believe that the president’s actions are to maintain public peace and order in the state.
The House of Representatives of the Plenary decided to establish an interim committee to oversee the legislative responsibilities previously fulfilled by the River State Capitol. This decision complies with Article 11 of the Constitution.
House spokesman Akin Rotimi pointed out in a statement issued Sunday that the president, who has submitted to the National Assembly, has announced that it has undergone a strict legislative review.
He stressed that the declaration was intended to strengthen democratic safeguards and to uphold the principle of checks and balances.
One of the key amendments made during the legislative review is the oversight of all regulations enacted by the National Assembly, rather than the Federal Executive Committee, as designated as the “Emergency Rules.”
This statement reads in part, “Under Article 5 of the State of Emergency (River State) Declaration of 2025 and under Article 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House of Representatives constitutes a dedicated interim committee to oversee implementation and ensure that rule and legal rules are within the scope of dominance within the national scope.”
The committee will be chaired by Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the leader of the House of Representatives, and served as vice-chairman of the House minority. Other members of the committee include Ibrahim, Idris Wase, Muktar Betara, Soli, Abiiodun Faleke, Amos Daniel, Ethiatake ibori-Suenu, Blessing onuh, Igariwey, Shehu Rijau, Oluwole Oke, Einosa Amadi, Patrick Umoh, James Barka, Alex Egbona, Isa Anka, and Fatima Talba.
The secretary of the committee will be led by Professor Jake Dan-Azumimi.
The statement underlines the importance of maintaining legislative oversight during emergencies. It emphasizes that “This development underlines the House’s determination to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and to ensure that extraordinary measures taken during the emergency period remain bound by legislative oversight, guided by transparency, accountability and the best interests of the goodwill of the river state.”
