The crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly took a new twist on Wednesday following the demolition of the assembly complex by the state government.
Bulldozers were said to have arrived at the complex around 6am for the demolition of the building razed by fire about two months ago.
The exercise trailed the defection of 27 lawmakers who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress. They are loyal to the factional Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, an ally of the immediate past governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The governor had immediately met with the state executive members after news of the lawmakers’ defection broke on Monday. The assembly has 31 members.
The recent development was triggered by the power tussle between Mr Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara over control of the state political structure.
The governor had earlier presented the 2024 budget estimates to the Edison Ehie-led faction of the assembly. The faction is recognised by the court.
Recall that the Amaewhule-led group in October served an impeachment notice on Fubara and removed Ehie as the House leader. However, assembly members loyal to Fubara swiftly removed Amaewhule and made Ehie the new Speaker.
A Rivers High Court in Port Harcourt stopped the Amaewhule-led group from gaining entry into the complex pending the hearing of the suit before it.