More than a week after the Supreme Court judgement that recognised Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara in a sign of accepting defeat has invited the Martin Amaewhule-led house of assembly members to a meeting on Monday.
The Monday meeting is expected to take place at the government house in Port Harcourt, according to an invitation letter dated March 7, 2025 written to the Speaker by the secretary to the state government, Tammy Danagogo.
Fubara has so far chosen not to communicate directly with the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly since the Supreme Court judgment instead electing to go through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.
In the letter from the SSG, Sim Fubara acknowledged receipt of the supreme court’s judgment which restored the Amaewhule-led assembly.
Tammy Danagogo noted in the letter that the meeting between Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly is expected to focus on securing a suitable venue for assembly sittings, and resolving outstanding remuneration and allowances for lawmakers, discussing about budget presentation.
The Supreme Court on February 28 had affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State until a valid appropriation law that has passed through Martin Amaewhule-led assembly is in place.
The Supreme court also ordered the seats of the Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers state house of assembly are not vacant, stating that there is no evidence that their names are now in the membership register of another political party other than the PDP.
The apex court therefore ordered that the Martin Amaewhule-led group and other elected members of the house should resume sittings.
The supreme Court in a separate judgment also nullified the local government election held in Rivers state on October 5, 2024 and ordered a fresh election.