Court gives verdict on Speakership tussle between Wike, Fubara's camps

A high court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, has confirmed Governor Siminalayi Fubara's candidate, Edison Ehie, as the authentic speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly.

According to The Nation, Ehie is one of the lawmakers in the camp of the embattled governor.

The camp of Nyesom Wike, the former governor of the state and current minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), suspended Ehie and removed him as the leader of the house in the wake of the crisis between the governor and his predecessor.

The court also ordered Martin Amaewhule and Dumle Maol to stop parading themselves as the speaker and deputy speaker of the oil-rich state.

The two lawmakers were also restrained from interfering with Ehie's activities as the speaker of the House.

The court also warned against the use of thugs and police officers to forcefully gain access to the Assembly Complex.

This is coming amidst the renewed political crisis in the state when 27 of the 32 lawmakers loyal to Wike dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The political unrest in the state started when the lawmakers served an impeachment notice on Fubara, and the governor had to resist the move.

At a press conference, Wike accused the governor of being an ingrate, saying that Fubara had tampered with his political structure.