A new wave of political tension is brewing in Rivers State as Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of dishonesty and failing to honour key parts of the peace deal that restored stability to the state.
Speaking on Thursday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Mr Amaewhule said the governor “deliberately lied” when he claimed he had not met with members of the assembly since the peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu ended the state of emergency earlier in the year.
Governor Fubara had earlier dismissed suggestions of a strained relationship with lawmakers, saying he was waiting for FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to convene a meeting as stipulated in the peace deal.
But the Speaker countered this, insisting that the governor met with lawmakers twice — first at Mr Wike’s residence and later at the home of businessman Ferdinand Alabraba — yet allegedly refused to comply with the resolutions agreed upon.
Amaewhule warned that the governor’s “false claims” and “disruptive actions” risk reigniting the crisis that recently destabilised the oil-rich state.
The Speaker accused the governor of excessive spending, awarding contracts to loyalists without assembly approval, and allegedly plotting to buy off lawmakers with state funds. He also claimed that the immediate past Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, left over ₦600 billion in the state treasury, which the governor inherited upon the lifting of the emergency rule.
“The governor needs to understand that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are not for sale,” Amaewhule said, adding that Mr Fubara was “unnecessarily antagonising” former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Despite the accusations, the Speaker reaffirmed the lawmakers’ commitment to the peace process initiated by President Tinubu.
This latest confrontation marks the second time in nine days that Amaewhule has publicly criticised the governor. Earlier, he accused Fubara’s administration of allowing the state’s public schools to fall into alarming decay — a claim the governor indirectly rejected, saying his administration remained committed to improving education despite “clear challenges.”
Background
The Rivers political crisis traces back to the power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, over control of the state’s political structure. The feud split the state assembly into rival factions, leading to President Tinubu’s declaration of a six-month emergency rule in March and the suspension of all elected officials.
The president later brokered a truce between both camps, restoring the governor and lawmakers to office in September. But tensions have continued beneath the surface, with fresh disagreements emerging over governance decisions, legislative relations, and political loyalty.
In a move interpreted as worsening the standoff, lawmakers recently adjourned plenary until 26 January 2026, making it impossible for the governor to present the 2026 budget before the end of the year.
Despite the peace agreement, the political atmosphere in Rivers appears fragile once again, with both sides trading accusations and signalling the possibility of renewed hostilities.
