Reps set up ad-hoc committee to perform Rivers Assembly functions

The House of Representatives will on Tuesday inaugurate an ad-hoc committee to take over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu on March 18, declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state following a worsening relationship between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state House of Assembly.

Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) in declaring the emergency rule, Tinubu suspended Fubara and the State Assembly for an initial period of six months.

He also named Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, a former Chief of Navy Staff as the Sole Administrator of the oil-rich state.

Although the President’s intervention was widely condemned by eminent Nigerians, with many questioning the powers of the first citizen to remove a democratically elected governor from office, both chambers of the National Assembly ratified the emergency rule, insisting that the President acted in the interest of public peace and order.

The House of Representatives at plenary resolved to set up a special committee to take up the role of the suspended assembly in line with Section 11 of the constitution.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesman for the House, Akin Rotimi, noted that the presidential proclamation 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.

“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 pursuant to 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,” the statement read in part.

According to the statement, 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, and 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.

According to the statement, the development “Underscores the resolve of the House of Representatives to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and ensure that the extraordinary measures undertaken during the emergency period remain subject to legislative oversight, guided by transparency, accountability, and the best interest of the good people of Rivers State.”