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More details have emerged on why the Rivers State House of Assembly dropped four of the nine candidates sent to them by Governor Siminilayi Fubara for confirmation and appointment as commissioners in his cabinet.
Members of the DPR revealed that they found irregularities in the submission of several candidates, so they could not confirm them for the positions they were seeking.
Those approved by MPs are Tonye Belgam, Prof Temple Nwafor, Dr Peters Nwagor, Lekue Kenneth and Amarigha Edward-Hart.
Meanwhile, those who were rejected included Prof Datonye Alasia, Tamuno Williams, Otonye Amachree, and Charity Deemua.
One of the rejected candidates, Deemua, while responding to a question from MP, Burabari Loolo regarding inconsistencies in his tax clearance, said that the document did not show an update on tax payments since December 31, 2018, and asked whether he was exempt from paying taxes in that period, explaining that he was a politician and did not have a formal job.
Amaewhule interjected: “Madam, you haven’t paid your taxes since 2018?”
Responding to this, Deemua said, “As I said before, I am a politician. We don’t have an office. I don’t have a job. Mr Speaker, I think taxes are generated from your income.”
READ ALSO: Rivers Assembly rejects Governor Fubara’s commissioner candidate
Amaewhule stressed further: “So politicians don’t pay taxes? Don’t you have any income from 2018 to date? Madam, you are under oath; you don’t have any income from 2018 to 2026. That’s what you are saying to Rivers people?”
Deemua explained that he was a commissioner in the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission and briefly served as a member of the local government interim committee in 2025 for three months.
The speaker challenged him: “Weren’t you paid a salary when you were a member of the interim committee?”
Deemua replied: “We are paid, but I protest, Mr Chairman, that payment is not income.”
Amaewhule replied: “But you said you haven’t had any income from 2018 to date, so no tax clearance. That’s what you’re saying to the people of Rivers? Madam, that’s not good. You’re misleading the 10th House of Assembly of Rivers State.”
Although the candidate apologized, it was not enough to save him.
In another example, the Speaker of the House, Major Jack, asked the commissioner candidate, Williams, to recite the second verse of the national anthem, but he could not, only reciting the first verse.
Similarly, Chairman of the Information, Complaints and Petitions Committee of the House, Dr Enemi George, informed the House of over 10 petitions against candidate Amachree, and added that he received another e-petition during the screening of the film.
The speaker said: “Dear colleagues, let me thank you all for your participation in this screening session. You were chosen to do this work. It is our duty to provide the best for the people of Rivers, that is why questions were asked and nominees answered.”
Jack made a motion for the candidates to leave the chamber, supported by Deputy Majority Leader Linda Stewart.
The DPR then postponed the plenary session until Tuesday, March 17 2026.
