The political crisis in Rivers State took a new turn on Thursday as the Rivers State House of Assembly suspended impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The decision was announced during plenary at the Assembly’s sitting in Port Harcourt, the state capital. Speaker Martin Amaewhule informed lawmakers that the process had been halted following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu earlier in the month.
Amaewhule also told the House that all court cases filed by the governor, his deputy and the Assembly had been withdrawn. He expressed hope that the governor and his deputy would now act in line with the provisions of the Constitution and work peacefully with the legislature.
The impeachment proceedings had begun at the first sitting of the House in 2026. Lawmakers accused the governor and his deputy of gross misconduct. During plenary presided over by the Speaker, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out a notice detailing the allegations.
Among the accusations listed were the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature. The House said these actions amounted to gross misconduct under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Section 188 of the Constitution outlines the steps that must be followed in removing a governor or deputy governor from office. It requires the House to issue a notice of allegations signed by at least one-third of its members. If supported by a two-thirds majority, the Chief Judge of the state is expected to set up a seven-member panel to investigate the claims.
In line with this provision, the Assembly wrote a letter dated January 16, 2026, requesting the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations against Fubara and Odu.
However, Justice Amadi declined the request. He explained that he was restrained by an existing High Court order from taking further action on the matter. The governor and his deputy had filed separate suits at a High Court in Port Harcourt challenging the impeachment process. The court granted injunctions restraining the Chief Judge from setting up the probe panel.
In his response, the Chief Judge also noted that the Speaker and the Assembly had appealed the restraining order granted by the High Court. This legal back-and-forth further deepened the political tension in the state.
The impeachment move was widely seen as the latest chapter in the ongoing political struggle in Rivers State. The crisis has largely been linked to the fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The rift between the two leaders became public in 2023, months after Fubara assumed office. Though Fubara was widely regarded as Wike’s political ally during the 2023 governorship election, disagreements soon emerged over control of the political structure in the state.
In 2025, President Bola Tinubu brokered a peace agreement between the two camps in a bid to restore stability in the oil-rich state. The agreement was meant to ensure cooperation between the executive and the legislature, as well as unity within the ruling party in the state.
However, the peace deal appeared fragile. Days before the impeachment notice was served, Wike accused Fubara of reneging on the agreement brokered by the President. This accusation was followed by renewed tensions between lawmakers loyal to Wike and the governor’s supporters.
The demolition of the Assembly complex had earlier caused controversy. The governor had said the old structure was unsafe and needed rebuilding. Critics, however, alleged that the move was aimed at weakening the Assembly during the political dispute.
The issue of legislative financial autonomy has also been a source of tension across Nigeria. In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of financial autonomy for state legislatures, directing that funds meant for Houses of Assembly should be released directly to them. Some state governments have been accused of failing to fully implement the ruling, leading to disputes in several states.
Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s major oil-producing states, plays an important role in the national economy. Political instability in the state often attracts national attention because of its economic and strategic importance.
During Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers expressed hope that both sides would now focus on governance and service delivery. They stressed the need for cooperation and respect for constitutional roles.
As of press time, Governor Fubara had not publicly commented on the suspension of the impeachment proceedings. However, close allies of the governor have previously maintained that he acted within the law and was committed to peace and development in the state.
Many residents of Rivers State have expressed relief over the suspension. Some civil society groups had earlier called for dialogue and urged political leaders to avoid actions that could disrupt governance.
The coming months will show whether the truce holds. For now, the withdrawal of court cases and the halt of impeachment proceedings signal a pause in the crisis that has dominated politics in Rivers State.
