The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, accusing them of gross misconduct.
The move was announced during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, where the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented a notice detailing allegations against the governor.
Invoking Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), Jack outlined seven counts of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara. The accusations include the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary expenditure, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with Supreme Court rulings on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
The notice of allegations was signed by 26 members of the House.
Speaker Amaewhule said the notice would be transmitted to Governor Fubara within seven days, in line with constitutional provisions.
Shortly after, the Deputy Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, also presented a separate notice of alleged gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.
The allegations against Odu include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, and conniving to allow unauthorized individuals to occupy government offices without proper screening by the Assembly.
Other accusations include approaching an alternative group for budgetary approval instead of the legitimate House of Assembly, as well as the seizure of salaries and allowances due to members of the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
This development marks the second attempt by the lawmakers to impeach Governor Fubara and his deputy, following a similar move in March 2025.
In that earlier attempt, also backed by 26 lawmakers, the Assembly accused the governor and his deputy of gross misconduct amid a political fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to intervene, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Acting under Section 305(5) of the Constitution, the president suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) was subsequently appointed as the administrator of the state.
Governor Fubara later returned to office after the suspension period, following a reconciliation process involving Wike—now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—and members of the Assembly.
In December, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform he was elected in 2023, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Explaining his decision, the governor said full identification with the president was necessary for effective support, adding that his political allies had resolved to move with him to the APC. His defection came shortly after several members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also joined the ruling party.
