By Parrot Newspaper 
Rivers Crisis: Constituents Begin Recall Process Against Speaker Amaewhule
By Ricky Awodi
A lawyer, Kenneth Amadi, has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to initiate recall proceedings against Martin Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This move marks a new phase in the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, which has remained heated since Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s fallout with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Backdrop of the Crisis
The political tension in Rivers State escalated when Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In response, pro-Fubara legislators declared their seats vacant and aligned with a faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. This faction subsequently received the governor’s budget presentation and confirmed appointments.
However, in a dramatic turn, Amaewhule and his colleagues later renounced their defection. On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, ordering their immediate reinstatement and directing Governor Fubara to re-present the 2025 budget to the Assembly under Amaewhule’s leadership.
The Recall Petition
A letter obtained by Parrot Newspaper on March 12, 2025, confirms that recall proceedings have begun. Dated March 7 and addressed to the Rivers State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, the letter serves as a pre-action notice requesting a certified true copy of the verified voter register for Obio/Akpor Federal/State Constituency. This, according to Amadi, is a preliminary step toward Amaewhule’s recall.
The letter, received by INEC on March 11, states that Amadi represents several indigenes of Obio/Akpor LGA who wish to remove Amaewhule on the following grounds:
Defection from PDP to APC in December 2023
Failure to provide effective representation in favor of personal and political interests
Undemocratic and violent impeachment activities, dating back to 2013
Disobedience to the Supreme Court’s judgment instructing all parties to await legal determinations
Illegal usurpation of the governor’s powers, including amending laws to extend LGA chairmen’s tenures and appoint Assembly Service Commission members
Unfulfilled campaign promises, such as youth empowerment programs in agriculture and aquaculture
Failure to establish a legislative agenda for the Rivers Assembly
Amadi warned that if INEC does not provide the requested voter register within seven days, legal action will follow.
Allegations of Misconduct
The petition further alleges that since his reinstatement, Amaewhule has repeatedly violated court orders and prioritized a political battle with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) over legislative duties.
“In the days following the Supreme Court judgment, Amaewhule has issued ultimatums against the RSIEC Chairman and even a bench warrant for his arrest, despite a valid injunction restraining him,” Amadi stated.
He questioned the legislative inactivity of Amaewhule’s Assembly, noting that no bills, constituency visits, or oversight functions had been recorded since February 28.
“The only activity we hear and read about is the issuance of ultimatums and arrest warrants against RSIEC officials,” Amadi observed.
Implications and Next Steps
If the recall process advances, it could set a precedent for legislative accountability in Nigeria. However, it remains to be seen whether the necessary constitutional threshold—a petition signed by more than 50% of registered voters in the constituency—will be met.
With Rivers State’s political crisis showing no signs of abating, the coming weeks may determine the fate of Amaewhule and the broader power struggle within the state.