The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, accusing them of gross misconduct.
This marks the second impeachment attempt against the governor and his deputy in less than one year, following a similar move by lawmakers in March 2025.
During a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader of the House, Major Jack, formally presented a notice detailing allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara. The lawmakers anchored their action on Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to the notice, seven allegations were leveled against the governor, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary expenditures, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to the legislature.
The impeachment notice was reportedly signed by 26 members of the House. Speaker Amaewhule assured the House that the notice would be forwarded to Governor Fubara within seven days, in line with constitutional provisions.
Following the presentation against the governor, the Deputy Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, also submitted a separate notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu.
The allegations against Odu include reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, obstruction of the House of Assembly from carrying out its constitutional responsibilities, and allegedly conniving to allow unauthorized individuals to occupy government offices without proper screening by the legitimate legislature.
Other claims include bypassing the Rivers State House of Assembly to seek budgetary approval from another group, as well as the alleged seizure of salaries and allowances due to lawmakers and the Assembly Service Commission.
The development further heightens political tensions in Rivers State as the impeachment process formally gets underway.
