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The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, did not reconvene for plenary on Thursday—exactly one week after adjourning its last sitting—fueling speculation of deepening political tensions within the legislature.
The absence followed widespread rumours that some lawmakers were planning to impeach the Speaker during the scheduled sitting.
Background to the Crisis
At its last plenary session on Thursday, January 8, the Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, citing allegations of gross misconduct. The lawmakers accused the executive of demolishing the Assembly complex and authorising expenditures without legislative approval, among other claims.
Following the resolution, the Clerk of the House was directed to serve an impeachment notice on the governor, granting him seven days to respond. The Assembly subsequently adjourned till Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Lawmakers Withdraw Support
Amid rising political pressure and public criticism, four lawmakers between Monday and Wednesday formally withdrew from the impeachment process, calling instead for dialogue and an amicable resolution of the crisis.
However, when the Assembly was expected to reconvene on Thursday, plenary did not hold. The House—currently operating from the conference hall of its official legislative quarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt—remained inactive, with no official explanation or indication of when sitting would resume.
Attempts to reach the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Dr Eneme George, were unsuccessful, as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages as of the time of filing this report.
Rumours of Plot Against Speaker
A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the unfolding events as theatrical and politically dramatic.
“The other time they sat and gave the governor one week to respond to allegations. Now these people are like Nollywood players—they can act,” the official said.
He added that he had heard reports of a plot to impeach Speaker Amaewhule, suggesting that the Speaker may have avoided reconvening the House after getting wind of the plan.
“If that is true, then the hunter has become the hunted,” he remarked.
Calls for Reconciliation
Former federal lawmaker and ex–Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, also weighed in, noting that recent developments suggested a possible shift in mood within the Assembly.
Nwuke, who represented Etche/Omuma Constituency in the House of Representatives, said the withdrawal of four lawmakers from the impeachment process was a significant signal.
“Naturally, expectations are high. The lawmakers will likely sit and reflect on all these interventions,” he said, stressing that any internal impeachment move against the Speaker remained an internal affair of the House.
He emphasised the need for cooperation between the executive and legislative arms in the interest of peace and development in Rivers State.
“What Rivers people want at this point is clarity—no impeachment and a working relationship between the House and the executive,” Nwuke said.
Divisions Within the Assembly
Earlier in the week, the Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma Constituency), alongside Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency), formally withdrew their support for the impeachment during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, calling for a peaceful resolution of the political standoff.
Similarly, on Wednesday, two female lawmakers—Barile Nwakoh (Khana Constituency I) and Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor Constituency II)—appealed to their colleagues to abandon the impeachment process.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for their interventions, they accused Governor Fubara and his deputy of constitutional breaches and alleged failure to honour agreements brokered under the President’s supervision.
They urged their colleagues to pursue a political solution, provided the governor commits to respecting the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and previously reached agreements.
Stakeholders Step In
Several prominent groups, including the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum, have also intervened, with some setting up mediation committees aimed at resolving the rift between Chief Wike and his estranged political ally and successor, Governor Fubara.
As political tensions continue to simmer, all eyes remain on when the Assembly will reconvene—and what direction the crisis will ultimately take.
