Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike has insisted that Hon. Marti Amaewhule remains the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Wike on Sunday announced that he attended a thanksgiving service of the “Speaker” at the Anglican Church in Port Harcourt.
Wike has been locked in a political warfare with his successor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara over the control of the sole of the oil -rich Niger Delta state.
23 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Mr. Amaewhule had in announced their defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC. The defection prompted the Rivers State Government and the four lawmakers loyal to Governor Fubara to approach a Rivers State High Court which subsequently declared vacant the seats of the defected lawmakers vacant.
Hon Victor Oko-Jumbo was later elected the Speaker in to replace Mr. Amaewhule.
However, in a statement posted on his social media pages on Sunday, Mr. Wike averred that Amaewhule remains the speaker of the state house of assembly.
“Glad to attend the Special Thanksgiving Service organized by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt on Sunday,” Wike wrote.
The political crisis in Rivers State has continued unbated with several court proceedings currently ongoing in several courts from both sides.