Rivers crisis: Assembly shelves sitting amid rumoured plot against Speaker

Amaewhule

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, failed to resume plenary on Thursday, exactly one week after adjourning its last sitting.

The development came amid rumours that some lawmakers were plotting to impeach Amaewhule during the scheduled sitting.

At its sitting last Thursday, the Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, over alleged gross misconduct.

The House, under Amaewhule’s leadership, cited the demolition of the Assembly complex and spending without legislative approval, among other allegations, as grounds for the impeachment move.

The Clerk of the Assembly was consequently directed to serve an impeachment notice on the governor, giving him seven days to respond to the allegations.

The House thereafter adjourned sitting till Thursday, January 15, 2026.

However, amid mounting political pushback, four lawmakers between Monday and Wednesday formally withdrew from the impeachment process, calling instead for an amicable resolution of the crisis. Punch