By Ovasa Ogaga,
The Rivers State House of Assembly has commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, accusing them of gross misconduct in what marks a renewed escalation of political tension in the state.
At plenary on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read a notice of allegations against the governor, invoking Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution. The notice, signed by 26 lawmakers, will be served on Fubara within seven days, according to the Speaker.
The lawmakers accused the governor of multiple acts of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
In a related move, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of allegations against Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh, also citing gross misconduct.
The accusations against Oduh include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House of Assembly in the discharge of its constitutional duties, and alleged connivance in allowing unauthorised persons to occupy government offices without legislative screening.
She was further accused of seeking budgetary approvals from a group other than the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as seizing salaries and allowances due to the Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
This development represents the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and his deputy, following a similar move by the lawmakers in March 2025, after the governor fell out politically with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
That earlier crisis prompted President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing Section 305(5) of the Constitution, and to suspend the governor, his deputy, and members of the Assembly for an initial six-month period.
Tinubu subsequently appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as administrator of the state during the emergency rule.
Fubara later returned to office following a reconciliation brokered between him, Wike, and the lawmakers, bringing temporary calm to the oil-rich state.
However, tensions resurfaced in December when Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, a move he said was necessary to fully align with President Tinubu, shortly after several Rivers lawmakers also joined the APC.
