The political crisis in Rivers State has taken another dramatic turn, with prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, accusing Martins Amaewhule, the disputed Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and 27 other lawmakers of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Clark, this defection occurred in December 2023, and the lawmakers have admitted to the switch. However, Clark’s accusations go beyond mere party changes. He claims they lied under oath in court, accusing them of perjury. He also raised concerns over the involvement of former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the entire political crisis.
Clark, a veteran politician and former federal commissioner for information, criticized the actions of the defectors for undermining the rule of law. “These lawmakers have filed conflicting affidavits, attempting to justify their defection through deceit,” Clark said in a statement on Monday.
He also questioned the role of the judiciary, especially Justice Donatus Okorowo, who has been linked to rulings that seem to favor the defectors. Clark has called for an investigation into the judicial handling of the case, suggesting that the courts might have been manipulated to benefit the defected lawmakers.
The saga began after the March 2023 gubernatorial elections in Rivers State, when Siminalayi Fubara, a candidate from the PDP, was declared the winner. Although Fubara was Wike’s handpicked successor, their relationship quickly soured. By October 2023, tensions between the two escalated as Wike’s influence over Fubara’s administration became overwhelming.
“Wike treated Fubara like a boy, a slave,” Clark remarked, alleging that the former governor used his position to control the state government. This power struggle reached its peak when, in October 2023, Wike reportedly instructed Amaewhule to initiate impeachment proceedings against Fubara. Despite the backing of 27 out of 31 lawmakers, the move failed.
This conflict, according to Clark, intensified with the burning of the Rivers State Assembly building on October 29, 2023, which he described as an act of sabotage aimed at destabilizing the state. Following this, on December 11, Amaewhule and the other 27 lawmakers defected publicly to the APC, causing an uproar in the political landscape.
Their defection, however, did not come without consequences. Clark pointed to the constitutional provision that disqualifies any lawmaker who defects to another party without a national split in the original party. Under Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, lawmakers who switch parties must vacate their seats.
“Once they joined the APC, they automatically lost their legislative seats,” Clark asserted. “Their subsequent actions are therefore invalid.”
Despite the legal implications, the defectors have continued to challenge the law through the courts. Clark highlighted that the Supreme Court had already ruled in a 2022 case involving the Labour Party in Ondo State, stating that defections without a national split lead to the loss of legislative seats.
The political drama in Rivers State is further complicated by the involvement of Wike. Clark blamed the former governor for orchestrating the crisis to destabilize Fubara’s administration and undermine governance in the state. Wike, he claimed, violated constitutional principles and party loyalty.
Clark also expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the matter, especially his failure to rein in Wike’s actions. He said, “The president should have stepped in to stop Wike from causing further damage to Rivers State.” Clark’s criticism comes at a time when President Tinubu’s efforts to mediate and resolve the conflict through out-of-court settlements have reportedly failed.
In addition to political instability, the defectors’ actions are feared to have caused a breakdown in the governance structures of Rivers State. Clark warned that the crisis was deepening and could lead to further destabilization if not addressed promptly.
He urged the judiciary to take a firm stance and ensure that the defected lawmakers are held accountable for their actions. “We need to restore constitutional governance in Rivers,” Clark emphasized. “The political climate is already devastating, and further delay in addressing this crisis will only worsen the situation.”
As the political drama continues to unfold, many observers are calling for a resolution to the crisis, fearing that continued instability in Rivers State could have broader consequences for the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole.
The legal and political battles are far from over, and Clark’s call for accountability might set the stage for a prolonged struggle. How the courts respond, and whether the federal government intervenes, will determine the future of governance in Rivers State.
