Rivers Crisis: Group has taken legal action against Tinubu, Fubara, and INEC

President Bola Tinubu has been taken to the Federal High Court in Abuja by six leaders from Rivers State. They claim that he compelled Governor Siminilaya Fubara to enter into an unconstitutional agreement, which they argue is illegal and undermines the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

The plaintiffs, led by Victor Jumbo, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, include Senator Bennett Birabi, Senator Andrew Uchendu, Rear Admiral O. P. Fingesi, Ann Kio Briggs, and Emmanuel Deinma.

They are seeking the court’s determination on whether President Tinubu, Governor Fubara, and the Rivers State Assembly have the right to enter into an agreement that nullifies or undermines the constitution and provisions of Section 109(I)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

They argue that neither President Tinubu nor Governor Fubara have the authority to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting fresh elections to replace the 27 Rivers State lawmakers.

The dispute between Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike has divided the state house of assembly, with 27 members defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As a result, the Edison Ehie group declared the seats of the 27 members vacant.

However, following a meeting between President Tinubu, Fubara, and Wike at the Aso Villa in Abuja, the President instructed that all court cases initiated by Fubara and his team be withdrawn, and that the leadership of Martin Amaewhule in the Rivers State House of Assembly be recognized instead of Edison Ehie.