The Rivers State House of Assembly has ignited a sharp debate after passing a controversial vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu and calling on him to seek a second term in office. The move, resolved during the 37th sitting of the House on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, has drawn immediate criticism from civil society groups who labelled the endorsement as premature and inappropriately aligned with the true purpose of their legislative mandate.
Major Jack, Leader of the Assembly, moved the motion, which was co-signed by 26 members. He justified the endorsement by stressing the President’s “fatherly role” and his demonstrated “love for Rivers people” through the numerous federal appointments granted to indigenes of the state. Other members contributing to the debate cited ongoing federal projects and the claimed economic dividends of the administration’s policies as reasons for their support.
Martin Chike Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Assembly, praised President Tinubu as a compassionate leader dedicated to national prosperity, stating that the economic benefits of his policies are “visible for all to see.” The final resolution conveyed the House’s “unflinching support and loyalty to the President” and urged members to immediately begin the sensitisation and mobilisation of their constituents for the President’s political agenda.
However, stakeholders quickly countered the Assembly’s decision, viewing it as a significant distraction from urgent state matters. Isaac Green, Executive Director of Relief International Africa, described the endorsement as “inappropriate and misaligned with the true spirit of representative democracy.”
“Lawmakers are elected to represent the diverse voices, aspirations, and concerns of their constituencies… Their primary responsibility is to scrutinise government policies, formulate pro-people legislation, uphold accountability, and ensure that governance reflects the will and welfare of the people they serve,” Green argued, asserting that a premature endorsement undermines these constitutional duties.
Similarly, Courage Nsirimovu, Coordinator of the People’s Advocate, dismissed the motion as “purely political” and a misplaced priority, designed only to represent the lawmakers’ “selfish political interests.” He urged the Assembly to refocus on critical tasks, such as working with the executive to deliver a 2026 budget that genuinely meets the needs of citizens.
Analysts also warn that this kind of political posturing, fuelled by internal political crises, has a direct economic cost for Rivers State, a crucial oil and gas hub. The perception of instability, created by lawmakers focusing on national political endorsements rather than local fiscal responsibilities and governance, acts as a significant deterrent to investment. A local economic analyst noted: “The energy lawmakers expend on national political lobbying should be directed toward urgent local issues, like increasing the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and tackling the capital flight caused by sustained policy uncertainty. Political stability and a singular focus on governance are paramount for attracting the infrastructure investment that Rivers State desperately needs.”
