Sources speaking to SaharaReporters said that the former Speaker of the House, Mr. Ibani, could lose his case at the Court of Appeal and be sacked from office. Mr. Ibani stepping down from his Speakership allows Mr. Wike to control the State using his stooge Mr. Adams in the event he loses his Supreme Court case.
The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ikunyi Owaji Ibani, resigned from his leadership position today. The newly elected House Speaker is Victor Adams from the Okrika constituency.
SaharaReporters learned that Governor Nyesom Wike told Mr. Ibani to resign his Speakership because they both could lose their seats in power. Mr. Adams, who it is understood is unlikely to lose his assembly seat in an appeals trial, is considered a safe choice for Mr. Wike.
It will be recalled that Mr. Wike lost his case in the Court of Appeal which nullified his election. Since that moment Mr. Wike has vowed to take his case to the Supreme Court to rule on the legitimacy of his election.
The Nigerian law states that if Mr. Wike loses his case at the Supreme Court then he will be forced to step down pending the outcome of the mandated rerun election.
Sources speaking to SaharaReporters said that the former Speaker of the House, Mr. Ibani, could lose his case at the Court of Appeal and be sacked from office. Mr. Ibani stepping down from his Speakership allows Mr. Wike to control the State using his stooge Mr. Adams in the event he loses his Supreme Court case.
Mr. Adams is a former militant and received amnesty under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Formerly, Mr. Adams was a member of Tom Ateke’s militant group.
A press release addressing this matter said that “the House of Assembly under PDP remains one big happy family with the foresight to make wise decisions.”