The Rivers State House of Assembly has initiated fresh impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, marking a renewed escalation in the state’s prolonged political crisis.
The process was formally initiated on Thursday during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, and broadcast live on Channels Television.
At the sitting, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations detailing claims of gross misconduct against the governor.
According to the lawmakers, the notice—signed by 26 members of the Assembly—was issued in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
Amaewhule disclosed that the notice would be served on Governor Fubara within seven days, in compliance with constitutional procedure.
Jack outlined seven allegations against the governor, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary expenditure, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of Supreme Court rulings on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Odu.
The allegations against her include reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstructing the Assembly from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, facilitating the occupation of offices by unauthorised persons, and seeking budgetary approvals from groups other than the recognised Rivers Assembly.
The impeachment move is the second attempt by the Assembly to remove the governor and his deputy.
A similar effort in March 2025 followed the fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
That crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency, suspending the governor, his deputy, and the Assembly for six months, and appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as administrator. Fubara later returned to the office after a reconciliation process.
In December, the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, a move that further reshaped the state’s political landscape and preceded the current impeachment push.
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