•Court action delays Presidency, APC’s intervention 
•TUC urges end to Rivers political crisis

Rivers State House of Assembly is not backing down any time soon on its threat to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over the allegation of “gross misconduct” against them by 26 lawmakers in the 32-man Assembly.
  
However, the Rivers Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria called for an immediate end to the lingering political crisis, warning that the continued standoff between key arms of government poses serious threats to governance, development, and the welfare of workers and residents.
  
The lawmakers refused to give audience to the seven-member peace and reconciliation committee of the pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF), led by an erudite lawyer and former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi (SAN).
  
The committee stormed Port Harcourt last Saturday and had “successful” meetings with the Rivers Leaders/Elders Forum, with the former governor and former deputy governor of the state, Rufus Ada George and Gabriel Toby, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, and the Rivers State Elders Council, led by Ferdinand Anabraba, a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, separately.
  
A reliable source who was in the meeting revealed that every effort by the panel to reach out to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, for a possible audience did not yield any result.
  
The peace committee was given two weeks to reconcile the warring parties in the crisis and turn in its report for further action.
  
Meanwhile, the Assembly adjourned sitting till Tuesday, January 27, 2026. There is apprehension that the lawmakers may go ahead with the impeachment proceedings, as the Assembly had earlier transmitted a letter to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, to set up a panel to investigate all the allegations against the governor.
  
Just as the impeachment notices and accompanying documents were transmitted to the Chief Judge through the Clerk of the Assembly on the directive of the Speaker, a restraining court order intervened.
  
Justice F. A. Fiberesima of the Oyigbo High Court, Port Harcourt, had last week granted an ex parte injunction restraining the Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment of the governor and his deputy.
  
Justice Fiberesima specifically barred the Chief Judge, his aides, or proxies from receiving any impeachment-related documents from the Assembly and adjourned the matter to Thursday, January 23, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
  
Following the court order, Assembly officials who reportedly arrived at the Chief Judge’s office with volumes of impeachment documents were unable to submit them, allegedly leaving the documents on the floor as there was no official authorised to receive them.

In a statement yesterday, signed by the State Chairman, Dr Udoka Josiah, the TUC appealed to both the executive and the legislature in the state to “sheathe their swords” and embrace peace in the overall interest of Rivers people.
  
According to the Congress, the protracted political tension has the potential to disrupt effective governance and stall socio-economic development, with workers and ordinary citizens bearing the brunt of the consequences.
  
The labour centre stressed the need for collaboration between the two arms of government, noting that harmonious working relations are essential for the delivery of democratic dividends to the people.