Three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, on Tuesday, confirmed eight nominees for appointment as commissioners to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s cabinet.
The screening and confirmation took place at the temporary legislative chambers located within the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The Oko-Jumbo-led three-member legislature is loyal to Governor Fubara.
The nominees are expected to fill some of the vacancies created by the recent resignation of nine commissioners loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The development, according to political analysts, might escalate the crisis in the State with the number of lawmakers that took part in the session far below the constitutional requirement for this exercise.
Justice Charles Wali of the State High Court, on May 10, restrained Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 25 other members from parading themselves as lawmakers.
The judge, who delivered the ruling in a motion ex-parte filed by Oko- Jumbo and two other lawmakers, also restrained Fubara and the State’s Chief Judge from engaging with Amaewhule and his 25 followers.
During the sitting on Tuesday, Oko-Jumbo read the governor’s correspondence, in which he requested the nominees’ screening and confirmation.
He expressed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the governor to provide democracy dividends to the people of Rivers State.
He stressed that the screening was part of the Assembly’s responsibility in the governance of the State
The House Leader, Mr. Sokari Good-boy and Deputy Speaker, Adolphus Timothy, unanimously adopted the request.
They said most of the nominees had previously served the State in various capacities without blemish.
The nominees are: Mr. Charles Bakee, Mr. Collins Onunwo, Dr. Peter Medee, and Mr. Elloka Amadi,
Others are – Mr. Basoene Benibo, Mr. Sydney Gbara, Dr. Ovy Chukwuma, and Mr. Solomon Eke.
