PORT HARCOURT — The political crisis in Nigeria’s primary oil hub reached a boiling point on Thursday, January 8, 2026, as the Rivers State House of Assembly formally triggered impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In a scathing address, Speaker Martins Amaewhule characterized the Governor’s administration as a “mistake” for the state and accused him of unprecedented constitutional violations.
The ‘Dollar Bribery’ Allegation and Charges of Gross Misconduct
During an emergency plenary session, which saw the House reconvene weeks ahead of its scheduled January 26 return, Majority Leader Major Jack presented a formal notice of allegations signed by 26 lawmakers. The document outlines a series of severe charges categorized as “gross misconduct,” the most explosive of which involves international currency manipulation.
- The Abuja Lobby: Lawmakers alleged that Governor Fubara converted massive amounts of state funds into U.S. dollars. They further claimed these funds were funneled to “political actors in Abuja” in a desperate bid to influence President Bola Tinubu to stop the Assembly from demanding a formal 2026 budget presentation.
- Fiscal Anarchy: The Assembly accused Fubara of operating the state without a legal appropriation law, effectively spending state resources at his own discretion. The Speaker noted that the Governor’s failure to present the 2026 Budget or the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) constitutes a total breakdown of the constitutional checks and balances.
A Seven-Day Ultimatum
Speaker Amaewhule confirmed that the formal impeachment notice would be served on the Governor within the statutory seven-day period. He warned that any last-minute attempts by the executive to submit a budget or appropriation bill would not stall the investigation.
“The particulars of gross misconduct are clear: a refusal to present a budget and persistent spending outside the law,” Amaewhule stated. “If he were willing to govern within the law, he would have acted long ago. The process of impeachment is now active, and it will follow its legal course.”
The “Mistake” Rhetoric and 2027 Power Struggles
The Speaker’s blunt declaration that Fubara was a “mistake” signals the final collapse of the political alliance brokered by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike during the 2023 elections. This development comes just weeks after Governor Fubara’s high-profile defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025.
While Fubara’s move to the APC was seen as a search for federal protection, it has instead placed him in direct conflict with the Wike-aligned local APC structure and the 26 lawmakers who had previously defected to the ruling party.
Security and Regional Implications
The sudden move to impeach the Governor has placed Port Harcourt on high alert, with security forces deployed around the Assembly quarters. Legal analysts suggest the Governor may challenge the legitimacy of the 26 lawmakers, citing previous court rulings regarding their seats after their defection from the PDP.
As the seven-day countdown begins, the situation in Rivers State remains the most significant threat to Nigeria’s regional stability, with the National Assembly under increasing pressure to intervene before the executive-legislative feud triggers a total shutdown of the state’s economy.
