Rivers Assembly Screens Fubara's Commissioner Nominees as Pastor Recalls Wike's Spiritual Campaign Support
The Rivers State House of Assembly has begun screening nine commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while a prominent pastor publicly recounted providing spiritual backing to former Governor Nyesom Wike's election campaigns.
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The Rivers State House of Assembly commenced screening of nine individuals nominated by Governor Siminalayi Fubara for appointment as commissioners on Monday morning, according to Naija News and Channels Television. The nominees were escorted into the assembly chamber at approximately 10 a.m., marking a procedural step in constituting the state's executive council.
The screening process follows Governor Fubara's formal submission of the nominees' names to the state legislature, as required under Nigerian constitutional provisions governing state executive appointments. The identities of the nine nominees and their proposed portfolio assignments have not been publicly disclosed by either the governor's office or the assembly leadership.
The development comes as Rivers State continues to navigate political tensions between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The relationship between the two has been marked by public disagreements over control of state political structures and legislative authority.
In a separate development highlighting the state's political history, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, General Overseer of Salvation Ministry, publicly recounted providing spiritual support to Wike during his gubernatorial campaigns. Speaking at his church's headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ibiyeomie claimed that "there were plans to make him lose," according to Naija News, referencing alleged efforts to prevent Wike's electoral success.
The pastor's remarks underscore the role religious leaders have played in Rivers State politics, where spiritual endorsements and prayer support are frequently cited by politicians as factors in electoral outcomes. Wike served two terms as Rivers governor from 2015 to 2023 before his appointment to President Bola Tinubu's cabinet.
The assembly's screening of Fubara's nominees represents a test of legislative cooperation in a state where factional disputes have previously disrupted governance processes. The confirmation or rejection of the commissioner nominees will provide insight into the current working relationship between the executive and legislative branches in Rivers State.