Siminalayi Fubara Rivers State Governor began demolition of the state assembly complex on Wednesday under tight security.
Chronicle NG reports that a viral video posted on X showed how part of the building is being demolished.
A social media user also shared pictures of the part of the demolished building on Facebook.
“Former Governor, Mr. Wike, was so obsessed with flyovers that he left the State Assembly chambers in tatters. Our governor and leader, His Excellency Sim Fubara, is committed to true infrastructural transformation across every sector of the river. He is going to build a State Assembly chamber befitting of our lawmakers, Dennis wrote.”
This incident may be another step to deepen the political crisis in the state. It was learned that this came as the factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, a loyalist to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, led other lawmakers loyal to the governor to hold a sitting early on Wednesday before the demolition began.
Chronicle NG reported in October 2023 how security personnel fired gunshots and tear gas canisters on the premises of the House of Assembly Complex as lawmakers commenced the process of impeaching Governor Fubara.
The tear gas was used to disperse some lawmakers and protesters after the governor stormed the complex to prevent his impeachment.
The governor also accused security agencies of bias and “shooting at him directly” amid the ongoing crisis in the state.
Meanwhile, the state police command, in its first reaction, said it had launched a comprehensive investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting amid the ongoing crisis in the state.
On Monday, 27 members of the House of Assembly said to be loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and immediate past governor of the state, Mr. Nyesom Wike, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers announced their defection at the plenary, citing division in their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the reason for the move.
Governor Fubara had been the target of impeachment proceedings started by Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers, but they were unsuccessful.
The crisis recently led to the burning of the State Assembly complex and factionalized the lawmakers into camps.
