The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.
At a plenary session on Thursday presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented a notice detailing allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. The proceedings were broadcast live on Channels Television.
According to the Assembly, the notice—signed by 26 lawmakers—will be served on Governor Fubara within seven days, in line with constitutional provisions. The lawmakers cited Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for the action.
Jack outlined seven allegations against the governor, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and failure to comply with a Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to the legislature.
Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read a separate notice of alleged gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh. The accusations against her include unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstructing the Assembly from carrying out its constitutional duties, facilitating the occupation of offices by unauthorised persons, and bypassing the Assembly in seeking budgetary approvals. She was also accused of withholding salaries and allowances due to the House of Assembly and its Service Commission.
This development marks the second attempt by the Rivers Assembly to impeach Fubara and his deputy, following a previous move in March 2025. That earlier effort came amid a political fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The crisis previously prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and all members of the Assembly for six months. The president appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator of the state during the period.
Fubara later returned to office after a reconciliation process involving Wike and the lawmakers. In December, the governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he was elected in 2023, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the need for full political alignment with the presidency. His defection followed the earlier move by some Rivers Assembly members to the APC.
COURTESY: lagostelevision.com
