Rivers Assembly Begins Impeachment Process Against Governor Fubara
The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially started impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The process began during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, and was aired live on Channels Television on Thursday.
During the session, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, read out a notice of allegations and claims of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The notice was reportedly signed by 26 members of the House, who said the action was taken in line with the Nigerian Constitution. Speaker Amaewhule stated that the notice would be formally served on the governor within seven days.
Relying on Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, the lawmakers listed seven allegations against Fubara. These include the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, also presented a separate notice of alleged gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu. According to the notice, Odu was accused of reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds and obstructing the House of Assembly from carrying out its constitutional duties.
Other allegations against the deputy governor include allowing unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the recognised House of Assembly, seeking budget approvals from another group instead of the legitimate Assembly, and seizing salaries and allowances meant for lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.
This move marks the second attempt by Rivers lawmakers to impeach Fubara and his deputy. A similar impeachment effort took place in March 2025 following a political fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
At the height of the political crisis, President Bola Tinubu intervened and declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing Section 305(5) of the Constitution. The president suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers Assembly for six months and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the administrator of the state.
After six months, Fubara returned as governor following a reconciliation process involving Wike and the lawmakers. In December, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, saying full support for President Tinubu required complete political alignment. His defection came shortly after some Rivers Assembly members also joined the APC.
