Political tensions in Rivers State eased on Thursday as the State House of Assembly announced an indefinite suspension of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, following high-level political interventions led by President Bola Tinubu.
The decision, reached during plenary in Port Harcourt, signals a potential de-escalation of the protracted political crisis that has gripped the oil-rich state for months and threatened to deepen divisions within the political class.
At the session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, lawmakers resolved to suspend further action on the impeachment notice earlier served on the governor and his deputy. The development follows weeks of legal battles, political negotiations and mounting pressure from stakeholders urging restraint.
The impeachment move, initiated at the Assembly’s first sitting of 2026, cited allegations of gross misconduct under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Majority Leader Major Jack had presented a notice detailing seven allegations against Fubara, including the controversial demolition of the old State Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission and purported non-compliance with a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy.
Deputy Leader Linda Stewart also levelled accusations against Odu, alleging unconstitutional expenditure, obstruction of legislative activities and irregular budget approvals.
The impeachment notice was reportedly endorsed by 26 lawmakers, a number sufficient to trigger the constitutional process. However, the effort quickly encountered legal hurdles.
The crisis deepened when the Rivers State Chief Judge, Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, declined to constitute the mandatory seven-member investigative panel required under the Constitution. He cited a subsisting interim injunction issued by the Rivers State High Court.
The restraining order, granted on January 16, 2026, by Justice Florence A. Fiberesima, barred the Chief Judge, the Speaker and the Clerk of the House from taking further steps in the impeachment process pending the determination of suits filed by the governor and his deputy challenging the legality of the proceedings.
Legal analysts say the court’s intervention effectively paused the constitutional timeline, creating a stalemate that left both the executive and legislative arms locked in confrontation.
Amid rising political tension, President Tinubu was reported to have engaged key stakeholders in efforts to broker peace and prevent further instability in the strategically important state. Observers note that Rivers State plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s oil and gas production, making political stability there a matter of national economic interest.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State also publicly distanced itself from the impeachment drive, describing it as “destabilising and unnecessary.” The party urged lawmakers to prioritise governance and dialogue over confrontation.
Political commentators say the suspension may not necessarily mark the end of hostilities but reflects a tactical retreat by the lawmakers amid legal constraints and federal-level pressure.
While the Assembly has suspended the impeachment indefinitely, it did not formally withdraw the allegations. Analysts suggest the move leaves room for future negotiations or a possible resumption of proceedings should political conditions change.
For now, the decision appears to offer respite to Governor Fubara’s administration and signals a fragile truce in a crisis that has tested constitutional boundaries and party loyalties within Rivers State’s political landscape.
