All eyes on Port Harcourt as Rivers lawmakers return to plenary

The Rivers State House of Assembly will officially return to plenary on Thursday following the suspension of emergency rule earlier imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu.

Speaker Martins Amaewhule is expected to preside over the sitting, which will take place at the Conference Hall within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt.

The hall has served as a temporary chamber since the Assembly’s main complex on Moscow Road was gutted by fire after suspected arsonists attacked the facility months ago.

The resumption marks a major step in restoring normal legislative activities in the state after six months of political tension and restrictions.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing worsening political crises, disputes between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and some lawmakers, and rising security concerns.

However, in a statement released on Wednesday, the President announced the end of the emergency rule.

He instructed Governor Fubara and the lawmakers to return to work immediately, assuring that peace and stability were gradually returning to the oil-rich state.
The decision has been received with cautious optimism across Rivers.

While many residents and stakeholders welcome the lifting of the emergency measures, there are calls for both the executive and legislative arms of government to put aside their differences and prioritize governance.

Political analysts believe the Assembly’s return to plenary could either heal the divisions that deepened during the crisis or reignite old tensions, depending on how both sides handle the coming weeks.

For now, all eyes will be on Thursday’s sitting, as the lawmakers reconvene to chart the way forward for legislative business in Rivers State.