By Abiola Olawale
The House of Representatives is set to inaugurate a 19-member ad-hoc committee on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, to assume the legislative responsibilities of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
This follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, prompted by escalating tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state legislature loyal to minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The committee, to be chaired by House Majority Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere with Ali Isa as deputy chairman, will oversee governance and ensure constitutional compliance during the emergency period.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi, noted that the presidential proclamation of the state of emergency on Rivers presented to the National Assembly was subjected to rigorous legislative consideration and duly amended to strengthen democratic safeguards and uphold the principles of checks and balances.
The statement reads in part: “One of the most consequential amendments was the designation of the National Assembly- rather than the Federal Executive Council- as the oversight authority for all regulations issued under the emergency arrangement.
“In line with Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, and under Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House has constituted a dedicated ad-hoc committee to monitor implementation and ensure that governance in the state remains within the bounds of constitutionalism and rule of law.”
According to Rotimi, the committee will be chaired by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, while the House minority whip will act as the deputy chairman.
Other members of the committee include Isiaka Ibrahim, Idris Wase, Muktar Betara, Sada Soli, Abiodun Faleke, Amos Daniel, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu and Blessing Onuh.
Others are Iduma Igariwey, Shehu Rijau, Oluwole Oke, Etinosa Amadi, Patrick Umoh, James Barka, Alex Egbona, Isa Anka and Fatima Talba.
The secretariat of the committee, according to the statement, will be headed by Prof. Jake Dan-Azumi.
The inauguration followed the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers Assembly for an initial six months, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed as Sole Administrator.
