The political drama in Rivers State has reached a boiling point, leaving many wondering: Can a government truly function when its leaders are at war with each other? The latest twist came yesterday when a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued a temporary restraining order, halting the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, from receiving or acting on any impeachment-related directives from the Rivers State House of Assembly targeting Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu.
But here's where it gets controversial: earlier that day, the Assembly had unanimously voted to proceed with impeachment proceedings, sending a letter to the Chief Judge requesting the formation of a 7-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy. All 25 lawmakers present, including four who had previously sought a political solution, raised their hands in favor.
The letter, signed by Speaker Hon. Martin Amaewhule, cited Section 188(5) of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution (as amended) as the legal basis for their action. It read, in part: “I write to request that you appoint a panel of seven persons to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State...”
However, Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Odu swiftly countered with two separate lawsuits, leading Justice F.A. Fiberesima of the Oyibo Local Government Area High Court to issue an interim injunction. This order prohibits the Speaker, 31 other defendants (including the Clerk of the House and the Chief Judge), and the Chief Judge himself from “receiving, forwarding, considering, and/or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment, or other communication” related to the impeachment panel. The injunction stands for seven days, with the substantive hearing scheduled for January 23, 2026.
And this is the part most people miss: the court’s decision was based on the argument that the Assembly’s actions were politically motivated and threatened the stability of governance in the state. The governor and his deputy described the impeachment attempt as “unconstitutional,” while their counsel emphasized the need to preserve the status quo.
Why the sudden push for impeachment? Lawmakers claim Governor Fubara was secretly working to have them recalled by their constituents instead of seeking peace. Hon. Looloo Opuende, representing Akuku Toru constituency 11, alleged during a press conference that the governor was “paying our constituents to withdraw us from the Assembly.” He added, “If you wanted peace, you should have called the leadership of the Assembly and discussed the right way forward. Impeachment is a constitutional matter.”
When asked to confirm these allegations, Dr. Darlington Oji, the governor’s senior special assistant on political matters, simply stated, “I am not aware.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Dr. Oji had previously claimed that Assembly members received N350 million each for constituency projects, despite some lawmakers denying that these funds were appropriated. He also pointed out the irony of lawmakers rejecting a N100,000 Christmas welfare package because it wasn’t appropriated, while accepting the much larger sums for projects.
Four lawmakers who initially called for a political solution have now reversed their stance. Hon. Emilia Lucky Amadi, representing Obio/Akpor constituency 11, stated, “We had earlier opted for a political solution, but the governor and deputy governor are adamant. There are strong indications that they still want to continue with illegal actions in the state. We consider this a slap to the Supreme Court and must defend the institution of the legislature.”
Hon. Barile Nwakoh of Khana constituency 1 added, “The governor and his deputy are intimidating us into withdrawing the process while they continue to violate the constitution and the law. This is detrimental to our democracy. We must proceed with the impeachment.”
To recap, the Assembly issued an impeachment notice on January 8, citing gross misconduct, including extra-budgetary spending exceeding ₦800 billion without legislative approval, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, demolishing the Assembly complex, and allegedly defying Supreme Court rulings on legislative autonomy. During Friday’s plenary session, 25 lawmakers voted unanimously in favor of investigating the governor and his deputy.
What do you think? Is the impeachment attempt a legitimate check on executive power, or a politically motivated attack on the governor? Does the court’s intervention uphold the rule of law, or does it undermine the Assembly’s constitutional role? Let us know in the comments below—this debate is far from over.
