A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has scheduled May 12, 2025, for the substantive hearing of a lawsuit challenging the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The legal action was initiated by Farah Dagogo, a former National Assembly member and 2023 governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State.

Due to challenges in serving the defendants directly, the court granted an application for substituted service and set a date for the main hearing.

The case, registered as FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, is before Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed.

On April 9, 2025, Dagogo sought judicial intervention regarding the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of the state’s democratic institutions.

Those named in the suit include President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Nigerian Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass, and retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was appointed as the state’s sole administrator.

A motion ex parte filed a day earlier, on April 8, 2025, saw Dagogo’s legal team led by Chief C. I. Enweluzo, SAN, asking the court to allow substituted service for the originating summons and related processes, citing difficulty in reaching the respondents directly.

Justice Mohammed, after reviewing an affidavit sworn by Solomon Ayotamuno, a litigation assistant at Liberty Chambers, and hearing submissions from the plaintiff’s counsel—including Femi Adegbite, Monday Dayi, Daso Jack, and D. Bakweri—granted the request.

The court further ordered that a hearing notice be issued and the case be adjourned to May 12, 2025, for substantive deliberations.

In addition, the judge directed that all court documents be delivered to the defendants via DHL courier to their last known addresses.

The backdrop to the case is the decision by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State.

That action led to the six-month suspension of democratic governance in the state and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as the sole administrator for an initial six-month tenure.

Dagogo formerly represented the Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

In response to the declared state of emergency in Rivers State, the House of Representatives has announced the inauguration of a 19-member Ad-Hoc Committee tasked with oversight responsibilities.

The committee is scheduled to be formally inaugurated on Tuesday, April 15.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Sunday by the House spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., who explained that the decision followed the National Assembly’s endorsement of a revised version of the State of Emergency proclamation submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

According to Rotimi, the modifications were the outcome of “intense deliberations aimed at bolstering democratic safeguards and ensuring adherence to the doctrine of checks and balances.”

A key change in the proclamation, he noted, is that the responsibility for overseeing the emergency measures now rests with the National Assembly rather than the Federal Executive Council.

“In line with Section 5 of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025, and pursuant to Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the House has constituted a dedicated Ad-Hoc Committee to monitor implementation and ensure that governance in the State remains within the bounds of constitutionalism and rule of law,” Rotimi stated.

The committee will be chaired by Rt. Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, with Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C. serving as Deputy Chairman.

Other members include Rt. Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim; Rt. Hon. Idris Ahmed Wase; Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betera; Hon. Sada Soli; Hon. James Abiodun Faleke; Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo; Hon. Shehu Saleh Rijau; and Hon. Wole Oke.

Additional appointees are Hon. Akarachi Etinosa Amadi; Hon.  Patrick Umoh; Rep. James Barka; Hon. Alex Egbona; Hon. Isa Anka; Hon. Amos Daniel; Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu; Hon. Onuh Onyeche Blessing; and Hon. Fatima Talba.

The committee’s administrative coordination will be handled by a secretariat led by Prof. Jake Dan-Azumi.

Rotimi stressed the importance of legislative oversight during this period, reaffirming the House’s commitment to constitutional supremacy.

“This development underscores the resolve of the House of Representatives to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and ensure that the extraordinary measures undertaken during the emergency period remain subject to legislative oversight, guided by transparency, accountability, and the best interest of the good people of Rivers State,” he stated..

The Labour Party’s prospect in the upcoming November 2025 Anambra State governorship election appear increasingly unstable, following renewed leadership disputes that have emerged in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment.

While many party members had hoped the apex court judgment would bring lasting resolution to the prolonged internal crisis, fresh interpretations of the judgment have triggered new claims to the party’s leadership.

This has reignited tensions and deepened existing divisions.

Sources close to the party told DAILY GAZETTE that influential stakeholders—including the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti—have rallied behind the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party National Caretaker Committee (LP-NCC).

However, Comrade Julius Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC) remains defiant and insists on continuing its leadership.

Adding another layer of complexity, the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, has resurfaced, declaring himself the new National Chairman.

He argues that the Supreme Court judgment effectively created a leadership vacuum.

Citing the party’s constitution, Apapa claims that in the event of a chairman’s incapacitation, removal, resignation, or death, the deputy is constitutionally empowered to take over.

This leadership turmoil has left many party supporters—especially those aligned with Chief George Muoghalu—in a state of uncertainty.

Muoghalu, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), was declared winner of the governorship primary conducted by the Abure-led faction, polling 573 votes.

However, another faction within the party conducted a separate primary, which produced Jude Umenajiego, a sitting member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha South II, as its candidate. Umenajiego secured 180 votes, while his opponent, John Nwosu, received 69.

With the emergence of two candidates, the focus has now shifted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where both factions are seeking official recognition.

Reacting to the controversy, Obiora Ifoh, spokesperson for the Abure-led NWC, dismissed the parallel primary as illegitimate.

He stated: “For the benefit of doubt, the Labour Party has since concluded its governorship primary in Anambra State and the name of the successful candidate has already been submitted to the INEC in line with the election guidelines.”

“We are, therefore, disassociating the party from any other or outcome of any primaries as the party has moved on, waiting for the right time to flag off our campaigns.”

Meanwhile, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, the National Secretary of the LP-NCC, condemned the primary that produced Muoghalu, describing it as illegal.

According to him, the Nenadi Usman-led committee would soon provide clarity and direction to party supporters in Anambra.

As the 2027 general elections draw closer, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced that it is actively restructuring to present itself as a viable alternative for Nigerians seeking meaningful change.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, and shared with journalists in Abuja.

According to Aiyenigba, the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) recently convened in Abuja, where members reaffirmed their dedication to building a credible political platform committed to the ideals of good governance.

The party emphasized its focus on promoting social justice, enhancing the quality of life for citizens, and driving national development through sustainable policies.

As part of its strategic preparations, the SDP has streamlined its membership registration process across state chapters and announced plans to upgrade its system.

The upgraded platform will feature computer-assisted harmonization and revalidation to improve efficiency and ensure accurate data management.

The party says it is determined to give Nigerians a strong and dependable political alternative in the next election cycle.