Politics
Rivers crisis: Table Begins To Turn As Lawmakers Plot To Impeach Speaker
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 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.
On Thursday, when the Assembly was expected to reconvene, there was no indication that plenary would hold.
The House, which currently sits at the conference hall of its official legislative quarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, remained inactive, with no explanation offered for the failure to sit or information on when lawmakers would reconvene.
Efforts to reach the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Dr Eneme George, proved unsuccessful, as he neither answered phone calls nor replied to a text message as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, a top government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the lawmakers as characters more suited to the Nollywood industry than politics.
He said, “The other time they sat and gave the governor one week to respond to allegations against him and all the rest. Now these people are like Nollywood ‘players’. ‘They can act.’”
He added, “I don’t even know what they are doing in politics instead of going into Nollywood so that they can produce good movies.”
Commenting on the silence of the lawmakers and the rumoured impeachment of the Speaker, the official said: “What I heard, because I’m not close to any of the Assembly members, was that there was an attempt to impeach the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, today, but I think he got wind of it and decided not to reconvene the House.”
He further remarked, “But you know an animal that removes itself from a trap set is still in the bush. Let’s see how far they can run at the end of the day. If that is true, you see that the hunter has become the hunted.”
Nwuke, who represented Etche/Omuma Constituency in the House of Representatives, said it appeared the larger House was beginning to bend after listening to various interventions, including those from within its own ranks.
The former Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications stressed the need for synergy between the executive and legislative arms in the interest of peace and development in the state.
He said, “You and I know that after that sitting when they commenced the impeachment against the governor, many developments began to come up. You know that four of their colleagues have pulled out of the impeachment.”
“They didn’t stop there, but also called on fellow house members in the camp to also withdraw. So naturally, I’m certain that quite a number of people and expectations are high. They (lawmakers) probably will sit and look at all of that. If there are rumours of impeachment, it is entirely a problem of the House.’”
Nwuke stressed the need for reconciliation to allow for peace in the interest of the state.
He said, “I think what great minds in Rivers State want at this time in our history is a clear understanding that there will be no impeachment. A clear understanding that there will be a working relationship between the House and the executive arm.
“These are the expectations, very likely, and I’m sure quite a number of Rivers people agree to this. So we are hoping that when the House reconvenes, people will be able to study the mood of the House and be able to understand what direction the House is following at this time.”
Earlier in the week, the Minority Leader of the House, Sylvanus Nwankwo, representing Omuma Constituency, alongside Peter Abbey of Degema Constituency, formally withdrew their support for the impeachment move at a news briefing in Port Harcourt, where they called for a peaceful resolution of the political crisis.
Similarly, on Wednesday, two female lawmakers in the Amaewhule-led Assembly—Barile Nwakoh, representing Khana Constituency I, and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II—appealed to their colleagues to withdraw the impeachment proceedings.
Nwakoh and Amadi called for a political resolution of the matter and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, for their interventions.
However, they blamed the current crisis on what they described as infringements of the Constitution by Governor Fubara and his deputy, as well as the governor’s alleged refusal to adhere to agreements reached under the supervision of the President.
They appealed to their colleagues to embrace a political solution if the governor would assure them of respecting the agreements and governing in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Several groups, including the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum, among others, have also intervened in the crisis, with some constituting committees aimed at resolving the rift between Chief Wike and his estranged political ally and successor, Governor Fubara.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections, a mass protest voting movement may be building up in Anambra South Senatorial District, following reported moves by members of major political parties to support the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.
The development is said to be linked to grievances among some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the treatment allegedly meted out to Onunkwo during previous political contests.
Onunkwo, who had previously contested the Anambra South senatorial seat under APGA, later emerged as the NDC candidate for the 2027 election.
Although the ADC is currently embroiled in legal disputes over the authentic candidates and the conduct of its primary elections, some members of the APC and APGA are also reportedly dissatisfied with developments within their respective parties.
It was gathered that a section of APGA members, in particular, are backing Onunkwo as a form of protest over the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, while some members of other parties are also believed to be considering voting for him irrespective of their party affiliations.
Confirming the growing support for Onunkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of NOWAS Oil and Gas Limited and a major stakeholder in Anambra South politics, Chief Ignesus Ikechukwudere Nnubia, said the NDC candidate currently enjoys widespread acceptability across party lines.
Nnubia said the growing support for Onunkwo had made his party affiliation less significant, arguing that voters would ultimately vote according to their conscience and assessment of the candidates.
He said, “At the moment, the number of APGA members with him and supporting him makes one wonder what is left of that party. Even the remnants of the PDP have pitched their tents with him, while members of the ruling APC at the national level are also behind him.
“So, the party that he belongs to is not a factor at all. You know that it is a game of numbers, and people are going to vote according to their conscience and not necessarily because of the political party they belong to.
“People are not bound to vote for their party, and some of them are ready and willing to vote for him.
“We are not talking about the party because he will surely get votes from the NDC, APGA, APC and even other political parties that are already closing ranks to support him as their candidate.”
Nnubia further described Onunkwo as the candidate currently standing tall among the contenders for the Anambra South senatorial seat, expressing confidence that his emergence would usher in what he described as a “new dawn” for the district.
He said political parties should not be the major consideration for voters, stressing that what matters most is the ability of elected representatives to improve the lives of their constituents.
According to him, political parties exist because of the people, and therefore the influence of party structures and incumbency has its limits during elections.
Nnubia said those factors would ultimately be tested by the electorate in the 2027 election, which he described as a contest in which voters’ choices would determine the outcome.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has pledged to attract more than ₦2 trillion in private-sector investment to the state within six months of assuming office if elected.
Odii made the pledge while addressing supporters in Lagos ahead of the formal commencement of his campaign.
He said his investment strategy would cover key sectors of the Ebonyi economy, including mining, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.
According to the PDP candidate, he has identified more than 2,000 prospective investors, each capable of investing about ₦1 billion in the state.
“I have over 2,000 people who can invest ₦1 billion each. When you multiply it, you will get over ₦2 trillion. This has been structured in such a way that all aspects of the economy will be involved,” Odii said.
He said the proposed investment drive was designed not only to inject capital into the state but also to create jobs, expand the productive base of the economy and provide opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Odii said Ebonyi’s natural resources and strategic location placed it in a strong position to attract large-scale investments if its economic potential was properly harnessed.
He promised that his administration would prioritise private-sector participation, industrialisation and job creation while creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
The candidate also said existing businesses in the state would be supported to expand, while new investors would be encouraged to establish operations across various sectors.
His pledge comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with economic development, employment generation and wealth creation featuring prominently in his campaign message.
The proposed ₦2 trillion investment target within six months, if achieved, would represent a significant boost to Ebonyi’s economy and rank among the most ambitious private-sector investment mobilisation plans proposed in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The planned visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State has sparked controversy following a protest by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, that the party was not informed about the visit.
Anosike said the APC in Anambra was never consulted or briefed about the proposed visit, adding that the party was taken aback by reports that the wife of the party’s national leader and presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter.
He said, “It is indeed strange that the First Lady of our presidential candidate is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.
“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture.”
Anosike also dismissed the mantra that “The Progressives Are Working Together”, being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a smokescreen by the ruling party in Anambra to hijack President Tinubu’s re-election from the APC.
He said, “For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.”
The APC chairman, however, said the development would not compromise the First Lady’s visit, urging all APC members and supporters in the state to turn out and give Senator Oluremi Tinubu a warm welcome.
He stressed that despite the party’s reservations over the arrangements, APC members remained committed to welcoming the First Lady to Anambra State.
Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Saleh, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, announced his resignation in a letter submitted to the party leadership in Katagum Local Government Area.
He cited personal reasons for his decision but did not provide further details.
His exit comes amid growing disagreements within the Bauchi APC following the party’s 2027 governorship primary. Other prominent members, including former governorship aspirant Bala Jibrin and Sunusi Kunde, an associate of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, have also reportedly left the party.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), resigned on August 31, 2026, following his opposition to the emergence of former Bauchi Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate.
He had criticised the primary process and questioned how the candidate emerged.
Kunde also resigned from the APC in August, submitting his resignation to the party chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area.
The latest departures are coming as efforts continue to resolve internal disputes and disagreements among APC members in the state.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video shared on his verified X account on Sunday, urging both opposition figures to strengthen their security and remain vigilant.
The cleric did not identify those allegedly behind the purported plot but claimed that attempts were being made to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
According to him, divine intervention would prevent the alleged plan from succeeding.
“Obi and Atiku, be very conscious of your security. They are looking for any means to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
“But God will never allow it to happen. Watch out and be cautious about your security,” he said.
Ayodele also urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider travelling to the United States, alleging that there were forces in America working against his political fortunes.
The claims come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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