The Rivers State House of Assembly has received a list of commissioner nominees from Governor Siminalayi Fubara and has invited nine of them for screening and confirmation. Fubara submitted the names to the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly for appointment to the State Executive Council, pending approval.
The submission comes roughly three weeks after the governor dismissed eight commissioners who were not affected by the Supreme Court ruling recognizing Martin Amaewhule as the authentic Speaker of the House. Fubara also relieved all his Special Advisers of their appointments.
The invitation to the nominees was outlined in a special government announcement dated March 3 and signed by the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi. The statement reads:
The Rivers State House of Assembly hereby invites nominees for appointment as commissioners and members of the Rivers State Executive Council to submit forty (40) sets of their curriculum vitae, photocopies of credentials, and evidence of compliance with tax obligations.
The nominees are Professor Datonye Alasia, Mr. Tonye Bellgam, Professor Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mrs. Charity Deemua, Tamuno Williams, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, Otonye Amachree, and Amairigha Edward Hart.
All documents should be forwarded to the office of the Clerk of the House at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters.
None of the recently dismissed commissioners were included in the latest list.
Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike—now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—are reportedly reconciled following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in their prolonged political dispute. Tinubu also intervened in the impeachment proceedings initiated against the governor and his deputy by 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike.
Amaewhule had announced, over two weeks ago, the withdrawal of the impeachment notice against the governor and his deputy, in line with commitments made after the President’s mediation.
Additional nominees are expected, as Rivers State has 23 local government areas.