Port Harcourt, Nigeria — A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has dismissed a suit filed by the Rivers State Government and loyalists of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, challenging the legitimacy of Speaker Martin Amaewhule and 26 lawmakers following their alleged defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Obile, declined jurisdiction on the grounds that the matter had already been addressed by the Supreme Court in a similar case. The ruling marked a blow to Fubara’s camp, which had sought to nullify the lawmakers’ positions in the state assembly.
This development came amid rising political tension and public condemnation of a military-style operation at the residence of the suspended Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Naval personnel, reportedly acting on the orders of Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), stormed Odu’s residence in the early hours of Friday, April 25, and forcibly removed three government vehicles—two Toyota Hilux pickups and one Toyota Hiace bus.
Though the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the state government, Hector Igbikiowubo, claimed only one Hilux was retrieved for operational needs due to vehicle shortages, insiders alleged all three vehicles were taken by force.
Civil society groups have reacted strongly. Vincent Chimene Wopara, spokesperson for Democracy Watch Nigeria, described the operation as “a targeted provocation” and “a violation of constitutional norms,” warning of a growing pattern of militarisation and impunity in the state.
“Nigerians and the international community must take note of the rising assault on democratic institutions,” Wopara said. “Governance should be guided by law, not intimidation.”
In another development, the Rivers State Pensioners Union expressed dismay over the suspension of the N2 billion monthly gratuity payments and the halting of palliative vehicle distributions previously initiated by Fubara’s administration to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
Dr. Joseph Agbo, Secretary of the Pensioners Union, alleged that the suspension of payments under the current administrator has caused severe hardship. “Many retirees have fallen ill, and some are feared dead due to the lack of support,” he said.
With mounting legal, administrative, and human rights concerns, Rivers State remains gripped by a deepening political and governance crisis.
