The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday moved to formally initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, marking yet another chapter in the prolonged political crisis rocking the oil-rich state.
In a packed plenary session presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the governor, signed by 26 of the state’s 27 lawmakers. The Speaker said the impeachment notice will be officially served on the governor within the next seven days, in line with constitutional requirements.
Among the charges are accusations that Governor Fubara engaged in extra-budgetary spending, failed to present the state’s appropriation bill, withheld funds due to the Assembly Service Commission, and allegedly refused to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on financial autonomy for the legislature. Separate allegations were also laid against Deputy Governor Odu, including reckless spending and obstruction of the Assembly’s constitutional duties.
This marks the second major impeachment attempt in recent history, following an earlier effort in March 2025 that escalated into a full-blown constitutional crisis and ultimately led to a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
APC Condemns Move, Warns of Destabilisation
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has strongly rejected the impeachment process, describing it as “destabilising and unnecessary” and warning it could plunge the state into further turmoil. In a statement signed by the party spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC emphasised that while it respects the legislature’s constitutional independence, it will not support an impeachment against an APC-led government.
The party urged lawmakers — particularly its own members in the Assembly — to resist external pressures that could undermine government stability and tarnish the party’s image. It also argued that unresolved internal strife from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not resurface to disrupt governance in Rivers State.
An allied APC group, the APC Progressive Mandate Group, went further by asserting that the impeachment proceedings are constitutionally defective and violate previous peace accords brokered by President Tinubu. The group called for an immediate halt to the process to prevent further destabilisation.
Reactions to the impeachment move have been mixed. Some civil society organisations and community leaders have criticised the legislature’s decision, urging lawmakers to focus instead on governance issues and constructive dialogue. Others see the impeachment as a necessary check on executive excesses.
The current crisis traces its roots to deep political fractures within Rivers State, involving a high-profile feud between Governor Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the state’s former governor. The dispute has repeatedly spilled into public view, complicating governance and party cohesion.
Under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the impeachment process begins with the filing of a notice of gross misconduct but still requires further hearings, evidence gathering and a two-thirds legislative vote should the matter proceed toward removal. Legal experts note that strict adherence to due process will be crucial should the Assembly pursue the case to its conclusion.
Governor Fubara has yet to publicly respond to the latest impeachment notice. Observers say his next steps — including potential judicial challenges — could determine whether Rivers State avoids another period of political instability.
