Victor Jumbo, the lawmaker representing the Bonny constituency, has been elected as the factional speaker of the Rivers state house of assembly.
Jumbo was elected on Wednesday by the lawmakers loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.
In a video shared on social media, Jumbo said he had directed the clerk of the house to inform Fubara that a new leadership had been elected in the assembly.
The factional speaker said he is ready to work for the people of the state.
Reports sugges that there are only two lawmakers loyal to Jumbo in the house.
The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One of the lawmakers, Dinebari Loolo – died in September 2023.
In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule amid the plot to impeach Fubara.
Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor, while 27 lawmakers belonging to the faction of Amaewhule elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers in the Awaewhule-led faction are loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and have been at loggerheads with Fubara.
On Monday, Fubara said the existence of members of the state house of assembly is based on his recognition.
The Rivers governor said members of the Awaewhule-led faction do not “exist,” adding that he decided to “give them a floating” through a peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu.
The face-off between the governor and the Awaewhule-led faction has made the assembly override Fubara on some bills recently.
