APC Chieftain Advises Fubara to Swear in Rejected Commissioner Nominees
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Peter Akuboh, has urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to go ahead and swear in some or all of the commissioner nominees recently rejected by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Akuboh’s advice comes barely a day after the Assembly, during its plenary on March 9, 2026, screened and confirmed five out of the nine commissioner nominees forwarded by the governor, while rejecting four others.
Those confirmed by the lawmakers are Tonye Bellgam, Professor Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Lekue Kenneth and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
However, the House declined confirmation of Professor Datonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Deemua, Tamuno Williams and Otonye TKD Amachree.
Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, said the decision to reject the four nominees followed issues that emerged during the screening exercise, including concerns over their performance as well as petitions and document-related controversies.
The Assembly subsequently directed the Speaker to formally notify Governor Fubara to swear in only the approved nominees “as soon as possible.”
Reacting to the development, Akuboh advised the governor to take a more assertive stance by proceeding with the swearing-in of the rejected nominees, a move that could potentially challenge the position of the legislature.
The APC chieftain’s position reflects growing political tension in the state and signals dissatisfaction among some political actors over the handling of executive nominations.
Political analysts note that the development further highlights the delicate power balance in Rivers State politics, where Governor Fubara’s administration has continued to face legislative and political pressures.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Rivers State Government House regarding the advice from the APC chieftain or the directive issued by the Assembly.
Observers say the governor’s next move could determine whether the matter escalates into a fresh confrontation between the executive and legislative arms of government or opens the door for further political negotiations in the state.
