A new wave of legal and political tension has emerged in Rivers State following the formal commencement of a recall process against the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, and 25 other lawmakers.

The recall move was initiated by a group of legislative lawyers operating under the umbrella of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), who have written to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to notify the commission of their intention.

In a letter dated January 8, 2026, and signed by ALDRAP’s Secretary, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, SCN, the association requested certified true copies (CTCs) of the voters’ registers for all state constituencies in Rivers State, a constitutional requirement for commencing the recall of elected legislators.

The development follows the controversial impeachment proceedings recently initiated by 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, an action that has sharply divided political actors, legal experts and civil society groups across the state.

According to ALDRAP, several of its members are registered voters and constituents in the affected constituencies, giving them the constitutional standing to initiate the recall process against their representatives.

The letter, titled “Notice of commencement of recall of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 25 other legislators, and request for certified true copies (CTCs) of the voter register of all the state constituencies of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” accused the lawmakers of acting in bad faith and in defiance of established legal and judicial precedents.

The association specifically referenced a February 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which reportedly urged both the executive and legislative arms in Rivers State to adopt peaceful and amicable means in resolving disputes.

“Contrary to the judgment of February 2025 of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that enjoined the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to work in peaceful harmony with the Governor of Rivers State by exploring and exhausting amicable methods to resolve conflicts, the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have once again initiated belligerent methods,” the letter stated.

ALDRAP also described the situation as ironic, noting that both Governor Fubara and the lawmakers spearheading the impeachment process are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Ironically, both the Governor of Rivers State and the said members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and ought to have explored and exhausted internal dispute resolution mechanisms,” the lawyers said.

Beyond requesting the voters’ registers, ALDRAP placed INEC on notice, warning that it would seek judicial intervention should the commission fail or refuse to release the certified documents.

Reacting further to the impeachment notice against the governor, the association dismissed it as legally defective and politically motivated, describing it as “dead on arrival.”

ALDRAP cited what it called fundamental legal flaws in the notice, including the manner in which Governor Fubara was addressed.

“The letter of notice of impeachment against Governor Fubara is dead on arrival for two legal reasons,” the association stated. “One, the fundamental flaw of addressing Governor Fubara as ‘madam,’ and two, the constituents of Rivers State did not endorse or authorise the lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment against Governor Fubara.”

Legal analysts note that impeachment proceedings are governed by strict constitutional and procedural rules, and that errors in form and process could undermine their validity.

If pursued fully, the recall process would require the endorsement of at least half of the registered voters in each affected constituency, verification by INEC, and the conduct of recall referendums.

Meanwhile, political observers have warned that the deepening confrontation between the executive, the legislature and civil society-aligned legal groups could further destabilise the state if dialogue and restraint are not urgently embraced.

As INEC considers ALDRAP’s request, attention remains firmly on Rivers State, where the battle over impeachment, recall and political legitimacy continues to unfold.