BREAKING: Rivers Assembly rejects four Fubara’s nominees, confirms five

By Folarin Adeyemi Aluko

The Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed five out of the nine commissioner nominees submitted by Siminalayi Fubara, following a screening exercise conducted during plenary.

The decision was reached during a televised sitting of the Assembly in Port Harcourt, where lawmakers assessed the qualifications, experience and suitability of each nominee for appointment into the State Executive Council.

However, the House rejected four of the nominees, citing what lawmakers described as poor performance during the screening process as well as controversies surrounding their nominations.

Lawmakers Approve Five Nominees

During the session, legislators took turns questioning the nominees on their professional background, public service experience and understanding of governance in Rivers State.

At the end of the exercise, five nominees were confirmed by the Assembly, while four others failed to secure legislative approval.

Although the lawmakers did not immediately provide extensive details regarding the specific issues surrounding the rejected nominees, several members noted that the Assembly was determined to ensure that only competent individuals were appointed into the state cabinet.

Speaker to Notify Governor

Following the decision, members of the House resolved that the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, should formally communicate the outcome of the screening to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Assembly directed the Speaker to write to the governor, advising him to proceed with the inauguration of only the five confirmed nominees.

The development represents a significant step in the ongoing reconstitution of the State Executive Council, which is responsible for overseeing key government ministries and implementing the policies of the state administration.

Cabinet Formation Amid Political Developments

The confirmation exercise comes amid broader political developments in Rivers State, where the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government has drawn considerable public attention in recent months.

Political observers say the Assembly’s decision to confirm some nominees while rejecting others highlights the legislature’s oversight role in ensuring accountability in the appointment of public officials.

Once inaugurated, the confirmed commissioners are expected to take charge of various ministries and support the administration of Governor Fubara in delivering governance and development programmes across the state.