Twist in Rivers crisis as pro-Fubara Speaker Edison Ehie resigns

By Okafor Ofiebor/Rivers

There was a fresh twist in the political crises in the Rivers on Sunday with the resignation of Edison Ehie, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Edison has been leading four members of the Rivers House House against the 27 members of the faction loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

Edison presided over the four-member Assembly that passed the Rivers 2024 budget within 24 hours of its presentation by Governor Fubara.

He also declared the seats of the pro-Wike lawmakers vacant after they defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

But in a shocking letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC dated 29, December, Edison Ehie announced his resignation as a member representing Ahoada East in the Rivers State House of Assembly and also the speaker of a group of lawmakers.

He addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

Though the lawmaker did not give any reason for his resignation, he, thanked his colleagues and constituents for the privilege of serving (with) them.

However, analysts believe that his resignation may be due to the peace deal Fubara reached with Wike which recognised the Martin Amawhuele faction as the authentic presiding officers of the Rivers Assembly.

In the the peace deal, Fubara was also mandated to represent the 2024 budget passed by the Edison led House to Amawhuele faction. In the same vein, Fubara was also mandated to not disturb the sitting of the pro-Wike faction of the lawmakers.

Governor Fubara had repeatedly promised to implement the deal and in his Christmas Day message, he revealed that he has already paid the salaries and allowances of the lawmakers he had withheld since the crises in the Assembly broke out over an alleged attempt to impeach him in October.

This was despite protests by some stakeholders in Rivers that the agreement was heavily weighed against him.