The political crisis in Rivers State deepened on Wednesday as about 10 bulldozers drove into the premises of the state House of Assembly and started the demolition of the complex.
This came as the factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, led other lawmakers loyal to the governor to hold a sitting early on Wednesday before the demolition began.
It was gathered that Ehie, during the session, said the complex was due for repairs following the explosion that rocked the building on October 30, 2023, saying the governor will provide an alternative place for them to sit for the meantime.
The demolition is being done under tight security.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, however, explained on Wednesday morning that the facility was unfit for legislation following a fire in October.
The Telegraph reports that the fire incident came amid alleged moves by some lawmakers to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara. It was gathered that some suspected arsonists threw an explosive into the complex, causing a fire in the building.
Johnson said, “The Rivers State Government says the decision to demolish and rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex was due to the structural defects which arose mainly as a result of the recent explosion and fire incident which rendered the main building unfit for human use.”
