The Rivers State House of Assembly has formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The move was announced on Thursday during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, and broadcast live on Channels Television.
At the session, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The notice was signed by 26 members of the Assembly in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
Amaewhule disclosed that the notice of allegations would be served on the governor within seven days, as required by law.
According to the Majority Leader, the lawmakers listed seven grounds of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara.
These include the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read out a separate notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Ngozi Odu.
The allegations against Odu include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstructing the House of Assembly from carrying out its constitutional duties, allowing unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the legitimate Assembly, and seeking budgetary approval from groups other than the recognised Rivers State House of Assembly.
She was also accused of allegedly withholding salaries and allowances meant for members of the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
This new development marks the second attempt by the Rivers Assembly to impeach Governor Fubara and his deputy, following a similar move in March 2025.
The earlier impeachment crisis stemmed from political tensions between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
At the height of the crisis, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing Section 305(5) of the Constitution. The president suspended Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the Assembly for six months and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the state’s administrator.
Six months later Fubara returned to office after a reconciliation process involving President Tinubu, Wike, and the lawmakers.
In December 2025, Governor Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he was elected in 2023, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His defection came shortly after some Rivers Assembly members also joined the APC.
Speaking at the time, Fubara said his decision was necessary to fully align with President Tinubu’s administration, stressing that he could not offer “backyard support” to the president.
