By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Rivers State House of Assembly has suspended the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The suspension of the impeachment follows the intervention of President Bola Tinubu on February 8, when he brokered peace between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a meeting at the president’s official residence.
Wike, who confirmed the peace meeting, said it was aimed at resolving the protracted political crisis in the state, assuring that it would be the last time the president would have to intervene in the state’s political crisis.
The decision to halt the impeachment process was taken on Thursday, February 19, during plenary at the Assembly’s resumed sitting in Port Harcourt.
Recall that at its first sitting in 2026, the House commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy over alleged gross misconduct.
During the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice detailing the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor.
The House accused the governor and his deputy of demolishing the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature, and other acts deemed to constitute gross misconduct.
The House said the notices of allegations were brought pursuant to Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) against the governor and his deputy.
In a letter dated Friday, January 16, 2026, the Assembly requested the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations against Fubara and Odu.
However, Justice Amadi declined the request, stating that he was restrained by a subsisting High Court order from taking further action on the matter.
Fubara and Odu, in separate suits challenging the impeachment process, secured injunctions from a High Court in Port Harcourt restraining the Chief Judge from acting on the Assembly’s request or constituting the probe panel.
In his response to the Assembly, the Chief Judge also noted that the Speaker and the Rivers State House of Assembly had appealed the restraining order granted by the High Court.
