The political crisis in Rivers State deepened on Thursday, January 8, as the State House of Assembly initiated new impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, issuing them a seven-day ultimatum to respond to allegations of gross misconduct.
This marks the third time the Governor and his Deputy are facing impeachment motions since assuming office in 2023. Previous attempts in 2023 and 2025, amid tensions between Governor Fubara and his predecessor and former political mentor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, were reportedly halted following presidential intervention.
The Assembly cited several allegations against the duo, including:
- Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds
2. Unconstitutional misappropriation of public funds
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Rivers Assembly Begins Impeachment Proceedings Against Fubara, Deputy
3. Hindering the Rivers Assembly from performing its constitutional duties
4. Illegal appointments of individuals without the required screening by the House of Assembly as mandated by the Constitution
5. Seizure of salaries and funds allocated to Assembly members
Read Also
6. Seizure of salaries of the Clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi
7. Refusal to implement constitutional provisions on the financial autonomy of the legislature and judiciary
8. Withholding funds intended for the operations of the Rivers House of Assembly Service Commission and obstructing its activities
The Rivers State House of Assembly presented the notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State during a plenary on Thursday.
Relying on Section 188 of the 1999 constitution as amended and other extant laws, the Leader, Major Jack read the notice against the Governor while the Deputy Leader Linda Stewart read the notice against the deputy governor.
The 26 lawmakers allege that the governor and his deputy have shown that they lack capacity to perform Theo constitutional duties.
The speaker in his remark promised to deliver both notifies to the Governor and the Deputy within 7 days as required by law.
