The 10th Rivers State House of Assembly, the legislative arm of government in the state, is quite unique, as it has recorded in a row, 6 female members who occupy juicy principal positions in the leadership of the Assembly.
Women are no longer mere dancers and praise singers, at electioneering campaign fields and political arena while the men control the political machinery of the state. In Rivers State, the former Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike provided enabling environment for women participation in Rivers politics. First, he made sure that all Deputy Chairmen positions in the Local Government Areas were occupied by women. And the Ward Councillors positions 5- each were reserved for women.
City People Magazine Port Harcourt Bureau Chief, Emeka Amaefula——+234(0)8111813069 here unveils 6 prominent female members of Rivers State House of Assembly and what you need to know about them.
JUSTINA EMEJI
This very beautiful light complexioned lady of substance, has been politically visible in Rivers State. The Emohua State Constituency which she represents has His Eminence Ohna Eze, Sergeant Chidi Awuse as a Frontline politicians, and Engineer Emeka Woke, the former Chief of Staff to Nyesom Wike while he was Governor of Rivers State. She occupied the position of PDP Women Leader before her emergence as the Treasurer South-South Zonal office of PDP. Chief ( Mrs.) Justina Emeji also served as member of the management Board of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Port Harcourt. This amiable lady of substance was appointed Deputy Director of Local Government Affairs. And during the 2019 General elections, she was nominated as a member of the Rivers State PDP Campaign Council and also Deputy Director Women Affairs directorate which was led by Honourable Mrs. Toru Ofili.
LINDA SOMIARI STEWART
Okrika State Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly from the inception of the legislative branch of government has been a well respected Constituency and those elected to represent the Constituency are usually the best of the political class from Okrika Local Government Area. Rt. Honourable Linda Somiari Stewart, is a second term legislator who has been politically grounded in asserting the roles women play in modern democratic setting in the state. Currently, she occupies the position of Deputy Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly. She has been a journalist, philanthropist, Strategic Planner, a mother and founder of Second Opportunity Africa Foundation as a Media cum Communication advocate. She is a Public Speaker with deep interest in agripreneur large presence in Social Media business.
EMILIA LUCKY AMADI
Her roles as a woman who hails from the Obio/Akpor State Constituency 2, where the former Rivers State governor Wike hails from is a testament of her overwhelming political status. First, she’s a retired Secondary School Principal and she has been very active as a female politician mobilizing the home front in her Ward. She was Women Leader of her electoral Ward. She was born in 1964.
In the party’s primaries held at Rumuepirikom Hall, she was returned unoposed as the sale candidate. After the election she spoke to journalists” I am highly overwhelmed by what happened here today. I want to first say thank you to God who has kept us alive up to this day and who also made everything possible here today. Secondly, I want to thank Governor Wike for his support. This has demonstrated that the governor is the only governor that has women at heart. I commend Governor Wike so much because when he says something he stands by it. Indeed governor Wike is women friendly. Today about six women will be given the opportunity to serve in the state legislative arm across the state.”
This lady has been performing her legislative duties with panache and gait.
QUEEN UWUMA TONY WILLIAMS
Coming from Ahoada East State Constituency 1, Lady Queen Uwuma Tony Williams is a female politician noted for her resilience in fighting her way in order to serve her good people of Ahoada East State Constituency 1. In 2015, she showed interest to contest in Rivers State House of Assembly but that effort wasn’t successful. The 43- year old female lawmaker is noted for her vibrancy and vivacious presence on the hallowed chamber of Rivers State House of Assembly.
NKEMJIKA IJEOMA EZEKWE
Not many are surprised that nature often bestows honour and leadership endowment to people of immense pedigree. She represents Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni State Constituency 2 at the Rivers State House of Assembly. And Deaconess Nkemjika Ijeoma Ezekwe happens to be the daughter of a prominent Pentecostal Christian faith preacher Reverend Richard Ebere Ugwumadu from Aggah in Egbema district of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. She was born on 27th of October,1975.
This lady was a former Special Adviser on Women Affairs to the wife of Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State from 2010 to 2013. She studied at Federal College of Education Technical Omoku before proceeding to University of Port Harcourt where she bagged a degree.
Her roles in establishing Nkembigchuks Ministries is a way for her to spread the gospel as well as her philanthropic gestures. She was the Chief Executive Officer of PSC Stores Limited. She conducts annual outreach programme for widows.
BARILE NWAKOH
Khana State Constituency 1 is one of the most revered state Constituencies of Rivers State House of Assembly given the historic anticident of the previous Representatives from the Constituency. Her husband was a prominent politician who mobilized support for People’s Democratic Party-PDP and when it was time to recommend a good sellable aspirant Mrs. Barile Nwakoh was nominated and duly elected as candidate for Khana State Constituency 1, in Rivers State House of Assembly during the 18th of March, 2023 House of Assembly election held in Rivers State where all the 32 legislative seats were won by people’s democratic party PDP.
IPALIBO HARRY-BANIGO
She is the immediate former Deputy Governor of Rivers State before she was elected to represent Rivers West Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly. Her roles as an administrator although a trained Medical Doctor, has been politically visible as Head of Service in Rivers State Civil Service. She rose to prominence when she was appointed as Director General, National Primary Health Development Agency Abuja. She’s been a member of Peoples Democratic Party-PDP since inception of the party in Rivers state from 1999 to date…
BLESSING CHIGERU AMADI ESQ..
This lady is a trained lawyer and holds sway in Rivers State political arena. She held the position of Treasurer Rivers State Chapter of PDP. She won one of the most controversial elections during the 25th February, 2023 general election which led to a rerun for Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2.
– Emeka Amaefula
+234(0)8111813069
