The state government is composed of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, whose powers are vested by the Constitution in the House of Assembly, the Governor and the High Court.

The governor appoints the heads of parastatals, state-owned bodies, judicial officers, permanent secretaries and members of the Executive Council with the exception of the deputy.

Banigo, formerly a civil servant in the Ministry of Health, was chosen by governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to be his running mate in the 2015 election.

Led by a Speaker, the House of Assembly consists of 32 members, each elected to four-year terms in single-member constituencies by plurality.

These include the powers to approve budget estimates presented to it by the executive; to make laws establishing the chargeable rates and the procedure to be used in assessing and collecting the rates charged by each local government council; confirm gubernatorial appointments, oversee and monitor activities of government agencies, review policy implementation strategies of the executive, summon before it and question a commissioner about the conduct of his or her ministry especially when the affairs of that ministry are under consideration and to initiate impeachment proceeding in order to secure the removal of the governor or the deputy.

This branch of government explains and applies the laws by hearing and eventually making decisions on various legal cases.

It has a regulatory or supervisory body known as the Judicial Service Commission, which takes care of appointment, promotion and disciplinary issues of the judiciary.

Among other responsibilities, the chief judge has the ceremonial duty of administering the oath of office of the Governor of Rivers State.

At present, there are about 10 judicial divisions within the High Court of Justice, and about 26 judges carrying out their professional work.