There is palpable tension in Rivers as the two factions of the State House of Assembly will have parallel sittings this morning.
On Sunday night the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led House loyal to the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara had in a letter by the Clerk, Dr G. M Gillis-West, invited a new commissioner-nominee, Emmanuel Frank-Fubara, to appear before it on Monday for screening and confirmation as a member box the State Executive Council.
Meanwhile, the Martin Amaewhule-led House loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will also hold plenary today, our correspondent reliably gathered.
While the pro-Fubara lawmakers holds it string in an improvised Hallowed Chamber in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the pro-Wike legislators sit at the State Assembly official quarters along Aba Road, also in the metropolis.
Both factions will sit by 10 am today (Monday).
Though it is not clear what the Amaewhule-led lawmakers will deliberate on, it will be their first sitting since the Court of Appeal judgement recognised the pro-Wike lawmakers as members of the House.
The lawmakers may among others, discuss the issue of the 23 local government councils in the state, which has been barricaded by the police for over two weeks in the wake of the crisis that greeted the tenure of the then Local Government Chairmen.
Recall that the State House of Assembly Complex located along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt was bombed in October 2023, following an attempt by 27 lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister to impeach Fubara.
The pro-Wike lawmakers later during plenary announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress as the political crisis in the state deepened following the feud between Fubara and Wike.
The status of the 27 lawmakers is now a subject of litigation as the Court is expected to determine their faith.
(PUNCH)