Politics
RVHA: One Year Legislative Session In Perspective
Rivers State Seventh Assembly was proclaimed on May 30, 2011 , by the state governor Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in line with the constitutional provisions specified in the 1999 constitution.
The house made up of 32 members elected to represent various constituencies of the state, elected Rt Hon Otelemaba Dan Amachree, representing Asari-Toru constituency I, as speaker while Hon Leyii Kwanee, representing Khana constituency II, emerged as the Deputy Speaker.
Other principal officers of the house were elected on Thursday June 2, 2011, as follows Hon Chidi Lloyd (Emohua) leader, Hon Nname Ewor (Ahoada East I) deputy leader, Hon Ikuinyi Ibani (Andoni) Whip and Hon. Irene Inimgba (Port Harcourt II) deputy Whip of the house. All these elections were done in a carry-go-fashion but the importance of the exercise were not lost.
However, the appointments sorry, election of the officers were preceded with a lot of horse – trading, lobbying and particularly the invocation of the zoning principal of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). That done, the lawmakers quickly settled down for the due discharge of their legislative functions which is to make justifiable laws that would bring about good governance of the state.
The 7th Assembly began its business with three members who were old wine in new wine bottles, namely Hon Leyii Kwanee, Hon Augustine Paul Ngo and Hon Godstine Ben Horsfall. These persons were state lawmakers when the state governor Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi presided over the assembly as speaker.
Interestly, eleven of the remaining members were returnees from either the fourth, fifth or sixth Assembly. They are Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree, Rt Hon Tonye Harry, Hons Chidi Lloyd, Aye Pepple, Ikuinyi Ibani, Felicia Barizasi Tane, Golden Chioma, Luvky Odili, Onari Brown, Victor Ihunwo and Irene Inimgba.
The 18 first timers in no particular order include Hon Nname Ewor, Andrew Miller, Azubuike Wanjoku, Dr Innocents Barickor, Ibelema Okpokiri, Dr Sam Eligwe, Martin Amaewhule, Evans Bipi, Josiah John Olu, Kelechi Nworgu, Fredrick Anabaraba, Legborsi Nwidadah, Ibiso Nwuche, Gift Wokocha, Michael Okey-Chinda, Victoria Nyeche, Victor Amadi and Okechukwu Nwaogu.
Addressing assembly correspondents recently after adjourning the House sine die at the end of the first legislative session of the 7th Assembly, the Chairman House Committee on Information and training, Hon Onari Brown, disclosed that the Assembly received and debated on a total of 19 bills.
Out of the number, 17 of them have been passed and assented by the governor and are now laws of the state; While the remaining two ie The Right of Women to Share in Family Property and Rivers State Agency for School Inspection and Monitoring are at the second reading and committee stage of legislative action.
According to Hon. Onari Brown, in keeping with session 4 (7) of the 1999 constitution, the House received both executive and private member bills which went through the normal three readings with the draft law being subjected to critical debates on the floor of the house.
At the committee stages robust public hearing were conducted that elicited inputs from stakeholders and the public which enriched the quality of the bills that were eventually passed. Consequently, within the period under review, the following bills were passed and authenticated as laws of the state with the signature of the governor.
These are Rivers state Carnival Development Bill, 2011, Rivers State Senior Secondary School Board Bill, 2011, Rivers State Local Government Bill, 2011, Rivers State Debt Management Office (Establishment) Bill, 2011, Rivers State Bonds, Notes and Securities Insurance Bill, 2011, Rivers State Contributory Pension Scheme for Employees in the Public Service (Amendment) Bill 2011.
Also passed into law are Rivers State Tourism Development Agency Bill, 2011, Rivers State Tenancy Bill, 2011, Handicapped Persons’ Welfare (Enhancement) Bill 2011, Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2012, Rivers State Public Office Holders (Payment of Pension) Bill 2012, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Law (Amendment) Bill 2012.
Others include Rivers State Public Utility Protection Bill, 2012, University of Science and Technology law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, Rivers State Road Traffic Management law (Amendment) Bill, 2012, and the State Water sector bill 2012.
Similarly, The Tide learnt that pursuant to 24 motions brought to the House by members about 14 resolutions were reached that have direct bearing on the lives of Ricers people.
It is imperative to mention that as politicians representing different interests, members of the 7th assembly have contributed to various debates at the floor of the Assembly independently for the benefit of the state in spite of the House being 100 percent PDP.
Arising from several uncomplimentary comments about the House, Hon Brown has debunked insinuations in some quarters that they are mere rubber stamp of the executive arm, pointing out that the synergy between the legislature and the executive stems from the fore knowledge of House processes by the state governor who had directed its affairs for eight years (1999 – 2007).
It is therefore not surprising that the peaceful working relationship among the arms of government has placed the state in a better pedestrian for growth and development. The achievements recorded so far by the present administration would not have been realizably if the lawmakers were at daggers drawn with the executive. Thanks goes to the leadership of both arms for the understanding exhibited in running government.
Credit must equally be given to the new members in the House who came with varying degrees of experiences deployed to legislation and have learnt so fast that hardly would anyone differentiate them in the conduct of House proceedings.
Within the period under discussion the leadership have been open and transparent hence the Assembly enjoyed the usual peace that have become synonymous with the state lawmakers. The purchase of official vehicles for members that tended to create disaffection was quickly resolved before outsiders heard about it and they had continued to work together with ought most good faith.
Another critical area in which the 7th Assembly can beat its chest for posterity to judge is in the performance of over sight duties. Relying on section 128 and 129 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, the lawmakers with recourse to existing legislation has either invited some members of the executive arm, companies and institutions operating in the state to answer questions were necessary.
The intervention of the Assembly in the recent Egi gas eruption in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area, the crisis in the State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), and the discriminatory practices of companies operating in the state among others are cases in point.
However the support of the parliamentary staff to the lawmakers cannot be under estimated as they work behind the scene in different capacities to enhance the work of the House. These has earned them cordial relationship with the management as quarterly meetings are held to articulate and resolve issues.
From the above, it is crystal clear that the first session of the Rivers State 7th Assembly has recorded modest achievement as a united House without the vagaries of political interference, rancor, bitterness and unnecessary sentimentality to derail the focus of engendering a purposeful governmet.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.
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