Rivers crisis: Court declares Fubara’s ally, Edison Ehie, as authentic Speaker

A High Court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, affirmed Edison Ehie as the legitimate Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly on Tuesday. Edison Ehie, aligned with the state governor Siminalayi Fubara, is involved in an ongoing dispute with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, where four lawmakers support the governor.

Previously, Edison had been suspended and removed as the house leader by colleagues loyal to Nyesom Wike, who is presently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.

Justice M.W. Danagogo, delivering the ruling, directed Martins Amaewhule and Dumle Maol to cease presenting themselves as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The court also cautioned against the use of thugs and police officers to gain entry to the Assembly Complex.

The political turmoil in the state took a new twist on Monday when approximately 27 lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.