A faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, is challenging the Rivers State Commission of Inquiry Law of 1999.
AFRIPOST gathered that the 27 lawmakers, who recently announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), are aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
These lawmakers are working to overturn the law, which allows the state to investigate past administrations.
During his tenure as governor, Wike used this legislation to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry that examined the administration of his predecessor.
Currently, the Amaewhule-led Assembly has advanced a bill to repeal the law, with the bill already passing its second reading.
This move follows Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate recent acts of arson and the destruction of local government secretariats in the state.
The commission had summoned FCT Minister Wike and APC Caretaker Chairman Chief Tony Okocha to testify, but both have declined to appear before the panel.
The bill seeking the repeal was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol, Akuku Toru Constituency II representative Lolo Opuende, and Omuma Constituency representative Sylvanus Nwankwo.
During the debate, Nwankwo argued that the law was outdated and needed to be revised to align with modern democratic principles.