By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Rivers State House of Assembly has begun impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.
The impeachment proceedings were initiated during a plenary session on Thursday, January 8, presided over by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule.
A live broadcast of the plenary on Channels Television saw the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara.
The notice was signed by 26 members of the House of Assembly, alleging that his action was against the constitution.
The Speaker stated that the notice will be served to Fubara within the next seven days.
The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, also read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Oduh.
Relying on Section 188 of the Constitution, Jack read out seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara.
Some of the accusations include the demolition of the Assembly Complex, extra budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to obey the Supreme Court on the financial autonomy of the House.
After Jack laid his notice before the Speaker, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, also brought forward a notice of gross misconduct against Odu.
Stewart listed the allegations against Odu, which include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional duties as outlined by the 1999 Constitution, and conniving to allow unauthorised persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the legitimate House of Assembly.
Other allegations were that she approached another group of people for budgetary approval instead of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, seizure of salaries and allowances accruing to the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Rivers State Assembly Service Commission.
The move by the House of Assembly is the third attempt to impeach Fubara since he became the governor of the state in 2023.
The House first attempted to impeach Fubara in October 2023 over allegations of gross misconduct, while the second attempt was in March 2025.
In the notice signed by 26 members of the Assembly in March 2025, the lawmakers accused Fubara and Odu of gross misconduct after the governor fell out with the immediate governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.
Following escalating tensions in the state, President Bola Tinubu intervened and declared a state of emergency.
The president suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers Assembly “for an initial period of six months” and said the development is required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
President Tinubu then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rted.) as the administrator of the state.
After six months, Fubara returned as governor following a reconciliatory move brokered between him, his immediate predecessor, and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the lawmakers.
