We will rather resign than ….- Rivers’ speaker, Amaewhule

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has said state lawmakers would rather resign their seats than continue in office without the power to uphold the constitution.

Amaewhule made the statement during plenary on Thursday amid the escalating political crisis in the state, stressing that the situation was not a personal dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, but “between the governor and the constitution.”

At the sitting, the House formally read a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The notice, which was endorsed by 26 lawmakers, accused the governor of actions that allegedly contravene provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Addressing lawmakers in an angry tone, the Speaker described Governor Fubara as “a threat to our democracy,” arguing that members of the Assembly were being unfairly blamed while alleged constitutional violations were ignored.

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“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 further 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 also 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?”

Concluding his remarks, the Speaker vowed that the Assembly would not abandon the impeachment process. “Distinguished colleagues, enough is enough… We will follow this impeachment process through,” he said.

Earlier in the sitting, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, formally read the notice detailing allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, also 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 meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged non-compliance with a Supreme Court directive on legislative autonomy.

The renewed impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy have further heightened political tension across the state.