The Rivers State Government has demolished the state House of Assembly complex to begin renovation work on the complex.
Bulldozers are seen pulling down the building from the roof to the ground.
The Government said the decision to demolish and rebuild the Assembly Complex is due to the structural defects which arose mainly due to the recent explosion and fire incident which rendered the main building unfit for human use.
It would be recalled that earlier in October, the assembly quarter of the complex was set ablaze by unidentified persons, amidst rumours of impeachment of Governor Sim Fubara.
Twenty-seven lawmakers in the state, who are said to be loyal to Ex-Governor Wike, defected from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.
These lawmakers who are reported to be loyal to the former Governor, Nyesom Wike, gave the division within the PDP as the reason for their defection.
The PDP had on Tuesday, demanded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh election for the 27 State Constituencies in Rivers State which became vacant after the defection of the 27 former State lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All-Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson said that after the visit of the Governor to inspect the level of damage done to the building on the day of the fire incident, it became necessary to invite professionals to advise the government on the integrity of the building.
“It would be recalled that on the night of the attack on the complex explosive dynamites were used to attack the complex which shook it to the foundation, with visible cracks on the walls afterwards, and the entire structure looked frail and unsafe for legislative business.
“In the interim, the Rivers State Government has provided an alternative venue for the House of Assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex,” he said.
