Rivers State House of Assembly members loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have hurriedly claimed to have impeached Speaker Martin Amaewhule. 

While the legality of the lawmakers’ action was still being understood by the public, another lawmaker Ehie Edison said he was named as Mr Amaewhule’s replacement. 

Mr Edison said on Monday that 26 (of 32 members) of his colleagues came together to cast their votes for him. Peoples Gazette was not immediately able to verify Mr Edison’s claim, with other lawmakers telling our reporters only 11 members were at the parliament when the impeachment and replacement purportedly took place on Monday. 

The Gazette was told that 15 members were previously suspended, allowing 11 members to form the requisite two-thirds quorum from the remaining 17 members to remove the Speaker and conduct other legislative activities. 

Rumours also circulated on Monday afternoon that Mr Edison led other lawmakers to recommend urgent removal of all local government chairpersons in the state, as well as the state’s chief judge. The Gazette was not able to immediately confirm whether the claims are true, or if the governor has ratified the recommendations. 

There were reports that some members loyal to Mr Amaewhule were shut out of today’s plenary, which was planned outside schedule under the cover of darkness.

Mr Edison, a staunch ally of Mr Fubara’s, has been with the governor in the ongoing battle against former governor Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

Mr Edison was allegedly elected Speaker hours after he was allegedly removed as the majority leader by a parliamentary faction loyal to Mr Wike, whose members were plotting to remove Mr Fubara from office, barely five months after assuming office. 

Mr Fubara made a defiant appearance at the House of Assembly Complex on Monday morning, vowing to fiercely resist any attempts to remove him from his position. It was the first public indication that the governor was no longer on good terms with Mr Wike, who was the single most influential factor in his election earlier this year. 

Mr Wike has not publicly commented on the violence, even though he had received intense public criticism over claims that he was trying to suffocate the governor in order to control the state resources. A spokesman for the FCT minister was reached by The Gazette for comments on Monday afternoon.