Rivers crisis deepens as Speaker threatens mass resignation over Fubara impeachment

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has said it would be better for all lawmakers in the state to resign than remain in office without the power to uphold the Constitution.

Amaewhule made the remark during plenary on Thursday amid the ongoing political crisis in the state, insisting that the situation was being wrongly portrayed as a personal clash between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

According to the Speaker, the real issue is a conflict between the governor and the Nigerian Constitution, not a feud involving the FCT minister.

His comments came as the House formally read a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The notice, endorsed by 26 lawmakers, accused the governor of actions allegedly in violation of constitutional provisions.

Speaking emotionally, Amaewhule described the governor as “a threat to our democracy,” arguing that lawmakers were being unfairly blamed while alleged constitutional breaches by the executive were being ignored.

He said public attention was being wrongly directed at the FCT minister instead of the governor, stressing that the Assembly’s efforts were aimed solely at enforcing the Constitution.

“For infractions on the constitution, they are applauding the governor instead of calling him to order,” the Speaker said. “This is not about the FCT minister and the governor; it is about the governor and the constitution.”

Questioning the relevance of the legislature under the prevailing circumstances, Amaewhule asked why lawmakers should remain in office if they were unable to perform their constitutional duties.

“If we cannot enforce the constitution, then why are we here? Why were we elected?” he asked, adding that allowing the executive to spend public funds without legislative oversight defeats the purpose of a democratic system.

The Speaker declared that the House would pursue the impeachment process to its conclusion, saying the lawmakers had reached a breaking point.

Earlier in the sitting, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read the notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara, while the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read a similar notice against the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Oduh.

The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier accused Governor Fubara of several infractions, including extra-budgetary spending, demolition of the Assembly complex, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.

The renewed impeachment moves against the governor and his deputy have further escalated political tension in Rivers State.