Three-Month Legislative Shutdown Sparks Uproar In Rivers

Three months after its last sitting, the Rivers State House of Assembly has come under intense public scrutiny over its prolonged inactivity, with stakeholders warning of looming governance gaps in the oil-rich state.

The Assembly, presided over by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, adjourned indefinitely after a plenary session on March 9, 2026, during which commissioner-nominees were screened.

Since then, no legislative business has been conducted, leaving several critical ministries — including health, information, environment and justice — without substantive commissioners.

The development has triggered widespread criticism from civil society organisations, political actors and youth groups, who described the situation as a threat to democratic governance and effective service delivery.

A civil society advocate, Obinna Ebogidi of the Rivers Peace Initiative, warned that the absence of legislative activities carries far-reaching consequences.

“The real cost of prolonged legislative inactivity is measured in the uncertainty it creates for citizens, businesses, investors and development partners,” he said.

Similarly, a prominent stakeholder, Chief Sunnie Chukumele of the Coalition of Rivers Elders of Thought, accused lawmakers of prioritising political interests above public service, alleging that the Assembly had abandoned its constitutional responsibilities.

Adding his voice, a former federal lawmaker, Ogbonna Nwuke, said the legislature’s failure to reconvene for plenary sessions contravenes constitutional expectations, stressing that lawmaking and oversight functions cannot be suspended indefinitely without consequences.

Youth organisations, including the South-South Youths Initiative, also condemned the development, describing the Assembly’s silence as a betrayal of the electorate’s trust. The group noted that the absence of debates, motions and oversight activities had weakened accountability mechanisms in the state.

In the same vein, the Civil Liberties Organisation cautioned that democratic institutions risk erosion when legislatures fail to function, urging immediate steps to restore parliamentary activities.

While critics have largely blamed the Assembly leadership for the impasse, political observers say the lingering rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has compounded the crisis.

The political standoff, they argue, has paralysed governance in the state, with both arms of government locked in a struggle for control.

With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, stakeholders have called on residents of Rivers State to demand accountability from their representatives and prioritise competence over political patronage at the polls.

They warned that failure to address the current legislative vacuum could have long-term implications for governance, policy implementation and public trust in democratic institutions.

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