The Initiative for Transparency Strategy and Good Leadership, a prominent advocacy organization based in Rivers State, is calling for the prosecution of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on grounds of suspected perjury. Chizi Enyi, the group’s President General, formalized this demand in a petition submitted to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This petition, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Friday, outlines serious allegations against House Speaker Martins Amaewhule and the other lawmakers, who are known to be aligned with former Governor Nyesom Wike.
Enyi accuses these legislators of providing false testimony under oath, a claim that undermines the integrity of the legislative body and erodes public trust. He emphasized the urgency of the situation by warning that if the governor does not initiate legal proceedings against the lawmakers within seven days, the Initiative for Transparency Strategy and Good Leadership will take matters into their own hands and pursue legal actions against Fubara and the state government. Enyi asserts, “All necessary documents outlining the crime specifying when, where, and the date are attached to assist you in building a strong case.”
The group’s president highlighted the growing frustration among Rivers State residents who feel compelled to speak out against what they perceive as recurring misconduct by their elected officials. Enyi contended that the actions of these lawmakers have dangerously betrayed the trust that voters placed in them during their election campaigns. “We call on you, Governor Fubara, to pursue criminal charges against Amaewhule and the 26 other legislators within a week. Should you fail to act, we will seek a court order to compel you to fulfill this duty,” Enyi cautioned fiercely.
Notably, NAN reported that these controversial lawmakers were featured in viral videos in December 2023, in which they appeared to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This move has been met with significant backlash, and they are also alleged to have submitted an affidavit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to confirm their supposed switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. However, members of the assembly aligned with Wike have categorically denied any intention of leaving the PDP, further complicating the already tense political landscape in the state.
(NAN)
