Rivers State House of Assembly Enacts Three New Bills Amid Political Tensions | Full List and Implications

 

In a significant legislative move, the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, passed three new bills into law during its 136th Legislative Sitting on Friday, March 14, 2025. This development, reported as of March 15, 2025, occurred just days after Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s latest attempt to present the 2025 budget, further intensifying the ongoing political crisis in the state. Following the passage of these bills, the Assembly adjourned indefinitely, raising concerns about governance and the budget process. This article provides a full list of the new laws, their objectives, and the broader implications for Rivers State.

Full List of the New Bills Passed into Law

The Rivers State House of Assembly enacted the following three bills during its plenary session on March 14, 2025:

1. Rivers State House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill, 2025
   • Objective: This bill aims to domesticate the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act of 2017, granting state lawmakers specific powers, privileges, and immunities necessary to perform their legislative duties effectively. It seeks to strengthen the Assembly’s autonomy and authority in the face of executive interference.
   • Details: The legislation aligns with national laws, ensuring that the Rivers State Assembly can operate independently and assert its constitutional role. Speaker Amaewhule emphasized that this bill enhances the legislature’s ability to serve the interests of Rivers State residents.
2. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill, 2025
   • Objective: This bill repeals the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 and re-enacts a new framework for the establishment, composition, and functions of the RSIEC. It aligns the commission’s operations with the Electoral Act of 2022 and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
   • Details: The new law aims to improve the conduct of local government elections, ensuring compliance with national electoral standards. It addresses previous criticisms of the RSIEC’s structure and seeks to enhance transparency and fairness in electoral processes, particularly ahead of the August 9, 2025, local government elections mandated by the Supreme Court.
3. Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2025
   • Objective: This bill repeals the existing Local Government Laws of 2018, 2023, and 2024, replacing them with a new law designed to align with contemporary legal standards for local government administration.
   • Details: The legislation seeks to modernize the governance of local councils, ensuring they operate in sync with constitutional provisions. It addresses issues such as the tenure of elected officials and the prevention of caretaker committees, reflecting the Assembly’s ongoing efforts to assert control over local government structures amidst disputes with the executive.

Context of the Legislative Action

The passage of these bills comes amid heightened political tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the pro-Nyesom Wike faction of the Assembly, led by Amaewhule. The crisis escalated when Fubara was locked out of the Assembly complex on March 12, 2025, while attempting to re-present the 2025 budget in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling from February 28, 2025. The court had directed Fubara to present the budget to the Amaewhule-led Assembly and barred the Central Bank of Nigeria from releasing statutory allocations until compliance.

In response, Fubara sent a letter on March 13, 2025, requesting to present the budget on March 19 or another convenient date in March. However, the Assembly’s decision to pass these bills and adjourn indefinitely on March 14 effectively stalled this effort, deepening the governance impasse. The timing of the adjournment suggests a strategic move by the pro-Wike lawmakers to assert legislative dominance and challenge Fubara’s authority.

Implications of the New Laws

The enactment of these bills and the subsequent indefinite adjournment have far-reaching implications for Rivers State:

1. Strengthening Legislative Autonomy:
   • The Powers and Privileges Bill enhances the Assembly’s independence, potentially enabling it to resist executive overreach. This move aligns with previous actions, such as the override of Fubara’s veto on four bills in January 2024, indicating a pattern of legislative assertiveness.
2. Electoral and Local Government Reforms:
   • The RSIEC and Local Government Bills aim to reform electoral and administrative frameworks, potentially impacting the upcoming local government elections. By aligning with national laws, these bills could improve governance at the grassroots level, though their implementation may face resistance from the executive branch.
3. Budget Presentation Standoff:
   • The indefinite adjournment complicates Fubara’s compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, risking a continued freeze on federal allocations. This standoff could lead to financial difficulties, delaying salaries, infrastructure projects, and essential services, thereby affecting the state’s residents.
4. Political Escalation:
   • The passage of these bills and the adjournment signal an escalation in the Wike-Fubara feud. Wike, speaking on March 12, 2025, in Abuja, endorsed the lawmakers’ right to impeach Fubara if necessary, suggesting that the pro-Wike faction may be preparing for further confrontations, including potential impeachment proceedings.
5. Public Impact:
   • Posts on X reflect growing public frustration, with some users criticizing the Assembly for prioritizing political gamesmanship over governance. The lack of a budget and stalled legislative activity could erode public trust and exacerbate economic challenges in Rivers State, a key oil-producing region.

Broader Political Dynamics

The legislative actions are emblematic of broader power struggles in Rivers State, rooted in the fallout between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor and political mentor. The pro-Wike faction, which commands a majority in the Assembly, has consistently challenged Fubara’s administration since late 2023, when 27 lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This defection, coupled with legal battles and physical confrontations, has polarized the state’s political landscape.

President Bola Tinubu’s mediation efforts, including a December 2023 peace accord, have failed to resolve the conflict, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement. The Supreme Court’s February 2025 ruling was intended to clarify budgetary authority, but the Assembly’s latest moves suggest a refusal to compromise, potentially necessitating further federal intervention.

What Lies Ahead?

The indefinite adjournment leaves Rivers State in a precarious position. Several potential scenarios could unfold:

• Legal Challenges: Fubara may seek judicial intervention to compel the Assembly to reconvene and accept the budget presentation, though this could prolong the legal tussle.
• Federal Pressure: The federal government, through Tinubu or financial regulators, may exert pressure on the Assembly to resume sittings, given the economic stakes of withheld allocations.
• Impeachment Threat: The pro-Wike faction could initiate impeachment proceedings against Fubara, though Wike’s claim that “nothing will happen” if this occurs may underestimate public backlash or federal response.
• Public Mobilization: Civil society and residents may organize protests or advocacy campaigns to demand resolution, potentially influencing the political dynamics.

Conclusion

The Rivers State House of Assembly’s passage of the Powers and Privileges, RSIEC, and Local Government Bills on March 14, 2025, marks a bold assertion of legislative authority amid a deepening political crisis. While these laws aim to strengthen the Assembly’s autonomy and reform electoral and local governance structures, their timing and the subsequent indefinite adjournment exacerbate tensions with Governor Fubara. As Rivers State faces a potential governance vacuum, the resolution of this crisis will hinge on dialogue, legal clarity, and the willingness of all parties to prioritize the state’s welfare over personal agendas. For now, the people of Rivers State remain caught in the crossfire of this escalating power struggle, awaiting a path to stability and effective governance.