Two lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn their impeachment notices against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and urged political dialogue to resolve the prolonged crisis in the state, legislative sources say.
The lawmakers, Hon. Fred Kpakol and Hon. Emeka Woke, made the decision on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, during plenary at the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt. Their action follows growing concerns about the political impasse in the state and repeated calls by stakeholders for a peaceful resolution.
Kpakol and Woke told colleagues that pursuing impeachment at this time may worsen tensions and called for a political approach to address the issues affecting governance and cooperation among political leaders in Rivers State.
They said political engagement, rather than legal action, could help restore stability and unity.
The lawmakers’ withdrawal adds to earlier shifts by other members who have expressed discomfort with the impeachment route and suggested alternative ways to resolve the impasse between the governor and factions aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The disagreements have underpinned months of political tension in Rivers State.
Hon. Kpakol told the Assembly that “we need a peaceful solution to the crisis because of our people’s welfare and progress,” stressing that prolonged political hostilities could distract from governance and development priorities. Woke also emphasised the need for reconciliation, saying the state must work toward political harmony and economic growth.
The House had earlier been thrust into the impeachment process against Fubara and Odu, with several lawmakers sponsoring allegations including extra-budgetary spending, failure to present the state budget, and contravention of a Supreme Court ruling on legislative autonomy.
Those proceedings have been a central element of the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Political tension escalated after Fubara’s defection to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2025, a move that deepened existing rifts and complicated relationships among state leaders.
Efforts by regional groups like the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to mediate and build consensus have underscored widespread calls for a negotiated settlement.
Observers say the lawmakers’ decision to retract the impeachment notices may signal a shift toward dialogue and cooperation, even as other legislators and political actors continue to navigate complex loyalties and power dynamics in the state’s political landscape.
The Rivers crisis has been marked by extended disputes between Governor Fubara and figures aligned with Wike, leading to legislative deadlock, impeachment attempts, regional mediation efforts and heightened political tension since 2023.
These recent withdrawals could influence how the crisis unfolds in early 2026 and affect broader governance outcomes in Africa’s oil-producing state
