The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a fresh turn as the State House of Assembly failed to reconvene for its scheduled plenary on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The session was expected to deliberate on the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, following a notice of gross misconduct served on them last week.
The failure of the lawmakers to resume sitting has triggered widespread uncertainty across the state capital, Port Harcourt. This delay comes amidst significant internal division within the House, as four lawmakers who initially signed the impeachment notice have publicly withdrawn their support for the move. The legislators, including Minority Leader Sylvanus Nwankwo and members Peter Abbey, Barile Nwakoh, and Emilia Amadi, have cited the need for a political settlement and appeals from high-level stakeholders as reasons for their change of heart.
The impeachment process, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has faced mounting pressure from various quarters. On Wednesday and early Thursday, civil society groups and traditional rulers intensified calls for a ceasefire, warning that a forceful removal of the governor could plunge the state into further instability. A report by the Good Governance Advocacy Centre also recently claimed that the allegations leveled against the governor do not meet the constitutional threshold for “gross misconduct” under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
While the Assembly leadership had previously insisted that the process remained on track and was fully supported by 26 members, the absence of a plenary session on the designated date suggests a potential stalemate or a tactical retreat to allow for ongoing high-level mediation. Security remains tight around the Assembly complex and other strategic locations in Port Harcourt as residents await an official statement from the House leadership regarding the next steps.
Political observers believe the current delay may provide a window for the intervention of the Presidency and other national leaders to broker a lasting peace deal between Governor Fubara and the legislative arm, which is largely loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
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