Rivers Assembly Crisis: National Assembly Considers Constitutional Intervention

The National Assembly may step in to resolve the prolonged crisis at the Rivers State House of Assembly, following mounting pressure from lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who say legislative paralysis in the state can no longer be ignored.

APC members in both chambers argue that the deadlock in Rivers has effectively shut down lawmaking and oversight, leaving the state without a functioning legislature and raising serious constitutional concerns. They insist the situation now meets the threshold for federal legislative action under the Constitution.

Several lawmakers, who spoke at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, said the federal parliament has a duty to act when a state assembly is unable to discharge its responsibilities.

“A state cannot be allowed to drift without a working legislature,” an APC senator said. “When democratic institutions break down at that level, the Constitution gives the National Assembly a responsibility to step in.”

A member of the House of Representatives echoed the view, describing the Rivers impasse as an abnormal situation that threatens democratic representation in the state.

“This goes beyond party lines,” the lawmaker said. “The people of Rivers State deserve a legislature that can make laws and hold the executive accountable. Right now, that is not happening.”

The lawmakers emphasized that any move by the National Assembly would be carried out strictly within constitutional limits and would involve consultations with relevant actors to avoid escalating tensions.

Although the leadership of the National Assembly has not taken an official position, insiders say discussions are intensifying and the issue is likely to come up during plenary sessions in the coming days.

The Rivers Assembly crisis has continued to draw national attention, adding to debates over how far the federal legislature can go in addressing governance breakdowns at the state level.