Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday urged Rivers State House of Assembly members to prioritise the people's interests and embrace peace to resolve the state's political crisis. “It is important at this stage that we all embrace peace,” Fubara said when he commissioned some projects in the Okrika Local Government Area of the state. The governor emphasised the need for peace to govern effectively and urged dissatisfied political actors to move forward, fully implementing the Supreme Court's February 28, 2025, decisions. “The Supreme Court has made its judgment, we don’t have any option but to abide by it, and by the special grace of God, we have started the process. “We are appealing to other parties: consider the interest of Rivers State. The only thing that we owe this state is peace and development. “I am open any day, any time for total peace in our state because if I have to govern well, there is the need for peace,” the governor said.

A lawyer, Kenneth Amadi, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate recall proceedings against the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule. This marks another twist in Rivers State’s prolonged political crisis, which began after Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Lawmakers loyal to Fubara had declared Amaewhule’s seat and those of 26 other pro-Wike legislators vacant following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Consequently, Fubara aligned with a three-member Assembly faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, presenting the state budget to them and securing their confirmation of commissioner nominees and other appointments. However, Amaewhule and the 26 lawmakers later renounced their defection. On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that they must resume their legislative duties and directed Fubara to re-present the 2025 budget under Amaewhule’s leadership. Meanwhile, a letter obtained by DAILY POST on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, confirmed that steps have been taken to recall Amaewhule from the Assembly. The letter, dated 7th March, 2025, and addressed to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Rivers State, was titled, ‘Pre-Action Notice: Request made pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, and Freedom of Information Act, 2011, for a certified true copy of the verified voter register for Obio/Akpor Federal/State Constituency, Rivers State as preliminary steps towards the recall of Martins Amaewhule, the legislator representing Obio/Akpor State Constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly’. A stamp on the acknowledgment copy of the letter indicated that the INEC office received it on March 11, 2025. In the letter, lawyer Kenneth Amadi stated that he represents several indigenes of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, which is Speaker Martin Amaewhule’s constituency. He further cited the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, along with Sections 69 and 110 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 116 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), which authorize INEC to initiate recall proceedings. According to the law, a recall can be triggered upon receiving a valid petition demonstrating that more than 50% of registered voters in the affected constituency have lost confidence in their representative.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticized Nigerian leaders, accusing many of seeking public office solely for personal gain while leaving the country in a worse state. He claimed that these individuals take massive loans, assuming they can repay them using public funds once elected. Obasanjo made these remarks in his new book, *Nigeria: Past and Future*, where he examined the leadership character of federal and state executives. The book was one of two unveiled to celebrate his 88th birthday last week. He described most past and present leaders—including governors, presidents, ministers, commissioners, and local government chairpersons—as unprepared, self-serving, and corrupt, prioritizing personal wealth over national development. According to him, many aspiring leaders are only interested in enriching themselves and their allies, disregarding the country’s progress. He said, “How do you explain the situation of a chief executive, a governor, whose business was owing the banks billions of naira and millions of dollars before becoming a governor and within two years of becoming governor, without his company doing any business, he paid all that his businesses owed the banks. “You are left to guess where the money came from. Having got away with that in the first term, he consigned to himself almost half of the state resources in the second term. He was a typical example of the goings-on at that level almost universally in the country with only a few exceptions. “State resources are captured and appropriated to themselves with a pittance to staff and associates to close the mouths of those that could blow the whistle or raise alarm against them while in office and when they are out of office.’’ He further said, “The ones that are criminally ridiculous are the chief executives that deceive, lie and try to cover up on the realities and truth of action and inaction on contract awards, agreements, treaties, borrowings and forward sales of national assets. Such chief executives are unfit for the job they find themselves in.”

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, risks imprisonment for allegedly defying a court order, as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan initiates contempt proceedings against the Senate. A notice of disobedience of a court order, signed by the court registrar in accordance with Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004, warns the defendants of their deliberate defiance of an order issued by Justice O.A. Egwuatu on March 4, 2025. The Federal High Court in Abuja issued Form 48 in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, listing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the plaintiff and the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, Senate President Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants/contemnors. The court ruled that Akpabio, Imasuem, and the Clerk of the National Assembly could face imprisonment for contempt unless they comply with the directive. Despite being served the enrolled order on March 5, 2025, the defendants allegedly ignored the court’s ruling and proceeded with actions in blatant defiance of its authority. Part of the Form 48 reads: “Take notice that pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act, your wilful disobedience of the order of this Honourable Court, Coram: Hon. Justice O.A. Egwuatu J, made on 4th day of March 2025, renders you liable for contempt of court, for which you may be committed to prison unless you comply with the said order. “Take further notice that despite being duly served with the enrolled order on the 5th Day of March 2025, you, the defendants/contemnors, have deliberately and contumaciously disregarded its binding directive, proceeding with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of this Honourable Court. A copy of the said order is annexed hereto for ease of reference. “The court in an enrolled order upon a motion exparte dated 28th February, 2025 but filed on the 3rd day of March, 2025 coming before the Honourable Court on the 4th day of March, 2025, prayed for the following reliefs: An order of this honourable court granting leave to the plaintiff/applicant to serve the 2nd defendant/respondents with the originating summons and all other accompanying processes on this suit by substituted means to wit: by serving same through the 1st Defendant; Clerk of the National Assembly or Pasting same on the Premises of the National Assembly or by publishing same on two national dailies. “An order of this honourable court granting an interim injunction restraining the 2nd defendant/defendant’s Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct headed by the 4th defendant from proceeding with the purported investigation against the plaintiff/applicant for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary of the 2nd Defendant on the 20th day of February, 2025, pursuant to the referral by the 2nd Defendant on 25th February, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction. “An order of this honourable court directing the 1st -4th Defendants to come and show cause; why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against them restraining them from proceeding with purported investigation against the Plaintiff for alleged misconduct without affecting her privileges as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), the Senate Standing Order 2023 and the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act. “An order of this honourable court declaring that any action taken during the pendency of this Suit is null, void and of no effect whatsoever among others.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, calling it a wasteful and corrupt endeavor. He also condemned the Bola Tinubu administration for allocating N21 billion to construct a new official residence for Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing it as a misplaced priority and a conduit for siphoning public funds. Obasanjo made these remarks in Chapter Six of his new book, Nigeria: Past and Future, where he analyzed the leadership qualities of federal and state executives. The book was among two released to mark his 88th birthday last week. Minister of Works David Umahi recently disclosed that the 700km highway would cost N4.93 billion per kilometer and that the contract was awarded through a counterpart-funding arrangement rather than a Public-Private Partnership. So far, N1.06 trillion has been disbursed for the pilot phase—six percent of the project—stretching from Eko Atlantic to Lekki Deep Sea Port. The project has faced criticism, with many, including 2023 PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, questioning why it was awarded to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech Construction Company without competitive bidding. Chagoury is widely regarded as a long-time business associate of Tinubu. Reflecting on Tinubu’s two years in office, Obasanjo expressed concerns that corruption remains entrenched, stating, “Everything is said to be transactional, and the slogan is ‘It is my turn to chop.’” Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga declined to comment on Obasanjo’s remarks when contacted on Wednesday night. The former president further criticized Nigeria’s leadership, stating that many in power—including governors, presidents, ministers, and local government officials—are ill-prepared, self-serving, and primarily focused on personal enrichment while the country suffers from poverty and underdevelopment. He lamented that many aspiring leaders take out billion-naira loans, confident that they can repay them using public funds once elected, ultimately leaving the nation in worse condition than they found it. He stated, “How do you explain the situation of a chief executive, a governor, whose business was owing the banks billions of naira and millions of dollars before becoming a governor and within two years of becoming governor, without his company doing any business, he paid all that his businesses owed the banks. “You are left to guess where the money came from. Having got away with that in the first term, he consigned to himself almost half of the state resources in the second term. He was a typical example of the goings-on at that level almost universally in the country with only a few exceptions. “State resources are captured and appropriated to themselves with a pittance to staff and associates to close the mouths of those that could blow the whistle or raise alarm against them while in office and when they are out of office.’’ He further noted that “The ones that are criminally ridiculous are the chief executives that deceive, lie and try to cover up on the realities and truth of action and inaction on contract awards, agreements, treaties, borrowings and forward sales of national assets. Such chief executives are unfit for the job they find themselves in. “Typical examples of waste, corruption and misplaced priority are the murky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road on which the President had turned deaf ears to protests and the new Vice-President’s official residence built at a cost of N21bn in the time of economic hardship to showcase the administration hitting the ground running and to show the importance of the office of the Vice-President. What small minds!”

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has cautioned that any move to impeach Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have severe economic repercussions for Nigeria. This warning comes after the blockade of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, preventing Governor Fubara from presenting the 2025 budget as mandated by the Supreme Court. INC also criticized Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, accusing him of attempting to stir ethnic tensions between the Ikwerre and Ijaw communities through his statements and political actions. Lawmakers Advancing Wike’s Agenda’ – INC Speaking on Wednesday, INC President Professor Benjamin Okaba condemned the lawmakers' actions, stating that they are not prioritizing peace or the welfare of Rivers people but are instead serving Wike’s personal interests. “These lawmakers are acting this way because Wike personally financed their election. He handpicked them, and he said so publicly. That is why I am not surprised by their behavior.” Professor Okaba criticized the blockade of the Assembly Complex, emphasizing that Fubara’s decision to comply with the Supreme Court ruling should not be mistaken for weakness. “Some people say Sim Fubara is weak, but he is only respecting the rule of law. He assured the President that he would implement the Supreme Court’s judgment, so why should the lawmakers block him from entering the Assembly?” The INC President also pointed out the lawmakers’ contradictory actions: “These same lawmakers gave the Governor 48-hour and 72-hour ultimatums to present the budget. They also demanded that he sack 19 Commissioners. If he sacks the Commissioners, including the Commissioner for Finance, who then prepares the budget?” ‘We Will Resist Any Reckless Impeachment’ Professor Okaba warned that any forceful or malicious impeachment of Fubara would be met with strong resistance. “If they go ahead and impeach Sim Fubara recklessly, we will resist it. The consequences will be too heavy for the entire country to bear. This is not a threat—it is a reality.”

Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says there will be no crisis if the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly impeaches his successor, Siminalayi Fubara. Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stated that the lawmakers have the right to remove Fubara over alleged impeachable offenses, including withholding their salaries for months. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) powerbroker said, “If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a criminal offence? It’s provided in the constitution. Am I a member of the Assembly? “If you have committed an infraction of the constitution and the Assembly deems it fit to say, you should be impeached. “I have heard people say: ‘Oh, if they impeach him, there will be a breakdown of law and order’. Rubbish! Nothing will happen.” Wike said if the Amaewhule-led House wasn’t disposed to peace, the Assembly would have gone on a six-month recess after the Supreme Court verdict. He rubbished the letter written to the Assembly by Fubara, saying he should have done better.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare vacant the Delta North Senatorial seat currently occupied by Ned Nwoko. The party urged the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a by-election to fill the position immediately. It also requested an order compelling Nwoko to refund all salaries, allowances, and benefits he received as a senator since his defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). These requests are outlined in an originating summons dated February 27, 2025, filed by the PDP. The suit lists Nwoko, the Senate President, and INEC as respondents and was filed on behalf of the PDP by Ayo Asala, SAN. In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/454/2025, the PDP presented several legal questions for the court’s determination. “Whether or Not, having regard to the clear an unambiguous provisions of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended), the 1st Defendant herein,who was elected under the the platform of the plaintiff herein, namely, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP representing Delta North Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(3rd Defendant) and who has now defected to another political party to wit, the All Progressives Congress,(APC) ought not to have vacated his seat as a senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly? “Whether or Not, having regard to the clear and unambiguous provisions of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999(As Amended),the 2nd and 3rd Defendants ought to have declared the seat of the 1st Defendant as a senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly vacant, the 1st Defendant having defected to another political party,to wit, the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the plaintiff being the political party that sponsored him for election into the Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly.” Upon the determination of the questions in its favour, the PDP asked for the following reliefs:

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revealed that some Ijaw groups, particularly the Kalabaris, opposed his decision to make Siminalayi Fubara the governor of Rivers State because he is from Opobo. According to Wike, critics argued that if an Ijaw candidate were to be chosen, it should not be someone from Opobo, as they are not considered "real" Ijaw people. He asserted that without his support, Fubara would have had no chance of becoming governor, lamenting that the Ijaw people in Rivers State failed to appreciate his gesture. Wike made these remarks during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday. “Out of our own benevolence we allowed it. I said, gentlemen, we are working as a team. “When people do something to bring everybody together, you appreciate it. In fact, when I bought this governor, they said, no, if you are talking about Ijaws it should come to the Kalabaris if you want to give governor to the Ijaws and not Opobo. You see the problem? “But you closed your eyes and you did it. All those who fought me, who said, ‘no,’ we can’t accept this, now parade themselves around him, hanging around him, taking his money,” Wike said.

Drama unfolded at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday when Governor Siminalayi Fubara arrived, only to find the entrance gate locked. Our correspondents observed that security personnel at the complex shut the gates upon the governor’s convoy’s arrival. According to the security team, the gates were locked due to a lack of official communication between the governor and the Assembly. However, Fubara insisted he had informed Speaker Martins Amaewhule of his visit through a letter and had also attempted to reach him by phone since Tuesday.