The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, over allegations of gross misconduct.
During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and broadcast live on Channels Television, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented a notice of allegations against the governor. The notice, endorsed by 26 lawmakers, was read to the House in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
Amaewhule announced that the notice would be served on Governor Fubara within seven days.
Invoking Section 188 of the Constitution, Jack outlined seven alleged acts of gross misconduct against the governor, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary expenditures, withholding of funds due to the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of allegations against Deputy Governor Oduh. The accusations against her include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the Assembly from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, and allegedly allowing unauthorised individuals to occupy offices without proper screening by the recognised House of Assembly.
Other allegations against Oduh include seeking budgetary approval from groups other than the legitimate Assembly, as well as the seizure of salaries and allowances belonging to the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
This development marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and his deputy, following a similar move by lawmakers in March 2025.
The political crisis in Rivers State escalated after a fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. At the height of the tensions, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-producing state, suspending the governor, his deputy and members of the Assembly for six months, citing Section 305(5) of the Constitution. Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) was appointed as administrator during the period.
Fubara later returned to office after six months following reconciliation efforts involving Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and state lawmakers.
In December, the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, under which he was elected in 2023, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, stating that full identification with President Tinubu’s administration was necessary to offer meaningful support. His defection came shortly after several Assembly members also joined the APC.
