Rivers assembly defends rejection of four Fubara nominees

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday rejected four of the nine commissioner nominees forwarded by Governor Siminalayi Fubara for screening and confirmation, citing poor performance and controversies surrounding their nominations.

The House, however, cleared five nominees as commissioners-designate after a screening session that lasted more than two hours.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, who presided over the plenary, announced the decision after lawmakers deliberated on the screening outcome.

Amaewhule explained that the four nominees were rejected due to unsatisfactory responses during the exercise and issues raised in petitions and documentation.

“Distinguished colleagues, we have nine nominees forwarded to this Assembly by the governor. At the end of the screening exercise, the House has confirmed five of them.

“And four of them, the House has chosen to take a deep breath, given their poor performance and controversies surrounding their documents.

“They have not been able to show this august assembly that they are prepared to serve Rivers State or that they are able,” the Speaker said.

He added that the Assembly would forward its resolution to the governor and urged him to swear in the five successful nominees.

Those rejected by the lawmakers include Prof. Datonye Alasia, Tamuno Williams, Otonye Amachree, and Charity Deemua.

The nominees confirmed by the Assembly are Tonye Belgam, Prof. Temple Nwafor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Lekue Kenneth, and Amarigha Edward-Hart.

During the screening, Deemua faced questions over inconsistencies in her tax clearance certificate. Responding to a query from lawmaker Burabari Loolo about why her tax record showed no updates since 2018, she said she had been a politician without a formal job.

She said tax payments were tied to income, adding that she had not held regular employment during the period.

The Speaker, however, questioned her claim, asking whether she had earned any income since 2018 and whether politicians were exempt from paying tax.

Deemua later clarified that she served as a commissioner in the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission and briefly as a local government caretaker committee member in 2025, positions for which she received payment. She later apologised during the exchange.

In another instance, the House Leader, Major Jack, asked nominee Williams to recite the second stanza of the national anthem, but he could only recite the first stanza.

Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Complaints and Petitions, Dr. Enemi George, informed the House that more than 10 petitions had been submitted against Amachree, including an electronic petition received during the screening.

After the exercise, Jack moved a motion for the nominees to take leave of the chamber, which was seconded by Deputy Majority Leader Linda Stewart.

The House later adjourned plenary to March 17, 2026.

In a statement issued after the sitting, the Speaker’s media aide, Martin Wachukwu, confirmed the screening and approval of five nominees in accordance with Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

The statement noted that the screening process involved scrutiny of the nominees’ academic qualifications, work history, tax compliance and petitions submitted against some of them.

Amaewhule said the legislative scrutiny was aimed at ensuring that only competent individuals were appointed to the Rivers State Executive Council to help deliver effective governance to the people.