CITIZENS COMPASS— The Rivers House of Assembly on Thursday, began an impeachment proceedings against the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Thursday’s process was the third attempt to impeach the governor since his administration.
Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike have been at loggerhead for some time.
Barely a year ago, the Federal Government suspended Fubara and imposed an Administrator on the State.
Recently, Fubara defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while Wike remains in PDP till date.
The impeachment proceedings were based on allegations of misconduct against the governor and his deputy, Ngọzi Odu.
The proceedings presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, representing Akuku-Toru I Constituency, were broadcast live on Channels TV.
The notice of gross misconduct against the governor was read to the House.
Mr Jack read the eight points of alleged gross misconduct against Governor Fubara saying the notice and impeachment process was in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended.He stated that the notice, dated January 5, 2026, was signed by 26 lawmakers.The allegations of gross misconduct included the demolition of the assembly complex, unapproved budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Rivers Assembly Service Commission, refusal to obey the Supreme Court’s ruling on the financial autonomy of the House, and seizure of the salaries of the Clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi.
After reading out the allegations, Mr Jack laid the notice before the speaker.
Responding, the speaker, Mr Amaewhule, promised to forward the notice to Mr Fubara.
According to him, “Distinguished colleagues, I’m now in receipt of this letter and pursuant to the sections of the 1999 constitution as sections of the 1999 constitution as amended, I will ensure that this letter is forwarded to His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara within seven days,” he assured.
Upon conclusion of the motion, the Deputy Leader of the House, Somiari‑Stewart, also brought forward a notice of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Mrs Odu, a professor.
Mrs Somiari‑Stewart representing Okrika Constituency, also said the notice was signed by 26 lawmakers of the assembly.
The allegations against the deputy governor included reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the assembly from performing its constitutional duties in line with the 1999 Constitution, and conniving” to allow unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the House.
The lawmakers, who cut short their vacation because of the move to impeach the governor, said that they have put on hold their demand that Mr Fubara present the state’s 2026 budget estimates for approval; they said the presentation would no longer be allowed until the impeachment process had been concluded.
The Speaker, Mr Amaewhule, said the impeachment notice is “good and in the interest of Rivers State.”
He accused Mr Fubara of rebuffing entreaties to present the 2026 budget, thereby undermining the powers of the assembly.
“Governor Fubara and Ngozi Odu are the only two people in office at the sub-national level that are yet to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill in the entire country.
“Siminalayi Fubara and Professor Ngozi Odu are nothing but a threat to our nascent democracy,” he said.
“If they are allowed to remain in office, I don’t know what will become of our democracy. And they are moving about from place to place, spending taxpayers’ money without approval.”
Mr Amaewhule later announced that the plenary had been adjourned until 15 January after the Majority Leader, Mr Jack, moved the motion for adjournment, which the Deputy Majority Leader, Mrs Somiari‑Stewart, seconded.
This is the third attempt by the Rivers assembly to impeach Mr Fubara since he became the governor of the state in 2023 amid a feud between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
APC kicks
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has kicked against the impeachment process.
APC warned that the move could destabilise the state and damage the party’s image.
Rivers State APC spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, signed the state which reads: The attention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has drawn the latest unfortunate developments coming out from the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
We concede that the legislature is an independent arm in the tripod of governance, and the constitutional responsibilities of checks and balances are within their democratic purview.
Our position as of today on this matter is that, we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy.
It will be totally untenable for our party to keep quiet when an obvious hangover from strife that occurred within the PDP is allowed to resurface in our great party.
It is important to say to Rivers people and Nigerians that since the latest threat of impeachment centers on the budget, may we remind ourselves that under the period of emergency rule, a budget was transmitted to the National Assembly by the President and Commander-in-Chief in May 2025 which was approved by the Senate on 25 June 2025 and subsequently by the House of Representatives on July 22 2025 for a total sum of #1.485 trillion.
Interestingly, this budget is for one year and should run until August 2026 and if the Governor is comfortable with the composition of the said budget, he may elect not to present any supplementary budget. Besides, the constitution allows for a six-months spending window into the new fiscal year by a state governor.
We therefore strongly advise all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly especially APC members, to resist pressures from outside the Assembly chambers to destabilise the Government of Rivers state ably led by His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Let it be known that our party will do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilized through fratricidal disagreements.*
We therefore call on members of the State Assembly, especially APC members, to immediately discontinue the impeachment process in order not to drag the image of our great party to the mud and stifle the continuous progress and development of Rivers State.
The Rivers House of Assembly has begun another impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The impeachment proceedings, which started on Thursday, were based on allegations of misconduct against the governor and his deputy, Ngọzi Odu.
Let our state remain a democracy and not a politicocracy!!!
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