The political crisis in Rivers State took a new turn on Friday as a group of legislative lawyers announced plans to recall 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule. The move followed the decision by the lawmakers to begin impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The lawyers, operating under the name Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), said they have officially written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin the recall process. The group accused the lawmakers of acting against the interest of the people and ignoring earlier court guidance aimed at promoting peace in the state.
Recall that on Thursday, 26 lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. In a notice served on the governor, the lawmakers accused him of gross misconduct, including allegations of financial misappropriation and abuse of office. The impeachment move immediately sparked tension across the state, with many residents and political observers expressing concern about its impact on governance and stability.
In response, ALDRAP disclosed that it had written a formal letter to the Chairman of INEC, notifying the electoral body of its intention to recall the lawmakers. The lawyers also demanded certified true copies (CTCs) of the voters’ register for all the state constituencies in Rivers State, which they said are required by law to begin the recall process.
The letter, dated January 8, 2026, was signed by the Secretary of ALDRAP, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, SCN. Copies of the letter were made available to journalists on Friday. In it, the association said many of its members are registered voters and constituents in the affected constituencies, giving them the legal right to initiate the recall of their representatives.
The letter was titled: “Notice of commencement of recall of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 25 other legislators of the House of Assembly who signed the impeachment notice dated 8th January 2026 and request for certified true copies (CTCs) of the voter register of all the state constituencies of the Rivers State House of Assembly.”
According to ALDRAP, the action of the lawmakers goes against the spirit of peace and reconciliation earlier advised by the Supreme Court. The lawyers referred to a judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in February 2025, which reportedly urged the Rivers State House of Assembly and the governor to work together in harmony and resolve their disagreements through peaceful and legal means.
“Contrary to the judgment of February 2025 of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that enjoined the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to work in peaceful harmony with the Governor of Rivers State by exploring and exhausting amicable methods to resolve conflicts, the members of the House of Assembly have once again initiated belligerent methods,” the letter stated.
ALDRAP also pointed out what it described as irony in the ongoing crisis, noting that both Governor Fubara and the lawmakers seeking to impeach him belong to the same political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to the group, the lawmakers should have explored internal party dispute resolution mechanisms instead of resorting to impeachment.
“Ironically, both the Governor of Rivers State and the said members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and ought to have explored and exhausted internal dispute resolution mechanisms,” the letter added.
The lawyers further warned INEC that they would seek legal action if the commission fails to release the requested voters’ registers. They said access to the certified copies is a constitutional requirement for carrying out a recall exercise, which involves collecting signatures from registered voters in the affected constituencies.
“In light of the foregoing, as a public interest organisation of lawyers, majority of whom are constituents of all state constituencies of the Rivers State House of Assembly, we hereby demand the aforementioned certified true copies (CTC) and put your Commission on notice,” ALDRAP stated.
Beyond the recall move, the lawyers also questioned the legality of the impeachment notice itself. In a separate statement, ALDRAP described the impeachment process against Governor Fubara as “dead on arrival,” citing what it called serious legal flaws.
According to the association, one of the major issues is that the lawmakers allegedly addressed the governor as “madam” in the impeachment letter sent to him. ALDRAP argued that such an error makes the notice invalid and unfit for consideration.
“The letter of notice of impeachment against Governor Fubara is dead on arrival for two legal reasons: one, the fundamental flaw of addressing Governor Fubara as ‘madam’; and two, the constituents of Rivers State did not endorse or authorise the lawmakers of Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment against Governor Fubara,” the group said.
The development has added to the growing political tension in Rivers State, which has experienced repeated clashes between the executive and legislative arms of government in recent years. Political disagreements, party disputes, and power struggles have often affected governance and slowed development projects in the oil-rich state.
Governor Fubara, who assumed office amid high expectations, has faced opposition within the state assembly since his inauguration. Supporters of the governor argue that impeachment at this time would distract from governance and worsen instability, while his critics insist that the allegations against him must be investigated.
Under Nigeria’s constitution, lawmakers can be recalled by their constituents if certain conditions are met. The process requires a petition signed by more than half of the registered voters in a constituency, verification by INEC, and a referendum. It is a long and difficult process, and successful recalls are rare in Nigeria’s political history.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC has not issued an official response to ALDRAP’s letter. The Rivers State House of Assembly has also not reacted to the recall move or the claims made by the lawyers.
Many residents of Rivers State are now watching closely to see how the situation unfolds. Analysts warn that continued political battles could affect governance, security, and economic activities in the state. Calls have also been made for dialogue and restraint to prevent the crisis from escalating further.
With impeachment proceedings on one side and recall efforts on the other, Rivers State appears set for another major political showdown, one that could shape its leadership and stability in the months ahead.