The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The move was announced during a plenary session on Thursday, presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule. The proceedings were broadcast live on Channels Television.
During the session, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented a notice of allegations and claims of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The notice, which was signed by 26 lawmakers, accused the governor of actions said to be contrary to provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
Speaker Amaewhule stated that the notice would be officially served on the governor within seven days.
Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read out a separate notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu.
Citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, Jack outlined seven allegations against Fubara. These include the demolition of the House of Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary expenditures, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
Following the presentation of the notice against the governor, Stewart also submitted allegations against Odu. The claims include alleged reckless and unconstitutional use of public funds, interference with the House of Assembly’s constitutional functions, and collusion to allow unauthorised individuals to occupy government offices without proper legislative screening.
Other accusations against the deputy governor include seeking budgetary approvals from an alternative group instead of the recognised Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as the alleged seizure of salaries and allowances due to the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
This development marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and his deputy, following an earlier effort by lawmakers in March 2025.
During the previous crisis, lawmakers accused both officials of gross misconduct amid a political fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The situation prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the state, leading to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly for six months under Section 305(5) of the Constitution.
President Tinubu subsequently appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the administrator of Rivers State.
Fubara was later reinstated after a reconciliation process involving Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and state lawmakers.
In December, Governor Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he was elected in 2023, to the All Progressives Congress. He said the move was necessary to fully align with President Tinubu’s administration. His defection followed the earlier defection of some Rivers lawmakers to the APC.
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