‘It’s better we all resign’, Rivers speaker declares amidst renew political tension with Fubara

Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, has said that it would be if all State lawmakers resign their positions rather than remain in office as toothless bulldogs while the constitution was being breached by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Amaewhule, while during Thursday plenary on the backdrop of the ongoing political crisis in the state, said the unfolding scenario was not a personal feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, but “between the governor and the constitution.”

The Inforrmant247 had earlier reported that the Rivers State House of Assembly had began impeachment proceedings of Governor Fubara, following a formal notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. The notice, endorsed by 26 lawmakers, accused the governor of actions in violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

The Speaker, speaking angrily, described Governor Fubara as “a threat to our democracy,” insisting that lawmakers were being unfairly blamed while constitutional breaches were being overlooked.

“For his infractions on the constitution, they are clapping for him, rather than calling on the governor,” Amaewhule said. “They are calling on our FCT minister, who is helping Mr President in Abuja, and making it look like it’s a problem between the FCT minister and the governor. It is not FCT minister and the governor, it is the governor and the constitution.”

He added: “The governor is a threat to our democracy. It is better we all resign and leave the governor and those he wants to defraud the people. We cannot continue to allow this to happen.”

Questioning the relevance of the legislature under the current circumstances, Amaewhule asked, “We sit here, elected people, and we cannot follow, we cannot enforce the constitution. Then why are we here? Why are we sitting here? Why were we elected?”

He further stated: “Let only the governor and the deputy governor spend as they like, and eat our money and do as they like. Why were we elected? Why do we have the legislature? Why can’t we be allowed to do our job?”

The Speaker concluded by vowing to pursue the impeachment process to its logical conclusion. “Distinguished colleagues, enough is enough… We will follow this impeachment process through,” he said.

Earlier during the sitting, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, had formally read the notice detailing allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read the notice of allegations against the Deputy Governor, Ngozi Oduh.

The Rivers State House of Assembly had earlier in 2025 cited allegations against Governor Fubara, including extra-budgetary spending, demolition of the Assembly complex, withholding funds due to the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged non-compliance with a Supreme Court directive on legislative autonomy.