The Rivers State House of Assembly faction loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara has screened and confirmed Dagogo Israel Iboroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as Commissioner-designate. The confirmation took place on Monday at the Chambers inside the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

Iboroma is expected to be sworn in as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, a position vacated by Professor Zaccheus Adangor (SAN), who resigned two weeks ago.

The confirmation has generated controversy, with some lawyers raising legal issues. Oraye St Franklyn, a lawyer, pointed out that the Justice Omotosho judgment, which has neither been appealed nor set aside, implies that the Rivers State High Court lacks jurisdiction to rule on the validity of the tenure of the Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly members and the vacancy of their seats.

However, Sogbeye Eli, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, disagrees with Franklyn, citing various sections of the Constitution and points of law. He argued that Martins Amaewhule, who defected to the APC with 26 other members of the State Assembly, lost his seat and ceased to be the Speaker, as provided by Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution.

The development comes amidst political tensions in the state, with Governor Fubara declaring that the Martin Amaewhule-led lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital, are no longer Rivers State lawmakers after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).