Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara
Rivers State House of Assembly has escalated its confrontation with Governor Siminalayi Fubara by formally requesting the Chief Judge of the state to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
The resolution according to Channels TV report, was reached on Friday following a unanimous vote by lawmakers, who declared their resolve to pursue impeachment proceedings to a logical conclusion.
The Assembly said it was acting within the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The latest development is the peak of a prolonged political crisis in the oil-producing state, triggered by the breakdown of relations between Governor Fubara, members of the House, and his predecessor, former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Although Governor Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025, the move failed to heal the rift.
The governor had described the defection as an effort to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy direction and promote stability in the state.
The defection followed months of political tension, including the movement of several lawmakers to the APC.
However, the majority of Assembly members have remained aligned with Wike, deepening divisions and sustaining the standoff with the executive arm.
The crisis had earlier prompted President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, suspending the governor, his deputy and the Assembly for six months amid concerns over governance and security. A sole administrator was appointed during the emergency period, before the suspended officials were reinstated later in the year.
Addressing journalists during a live press conference in Port Harcourt, Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol accused Governor Fubara of blackmail, intimidation and repeated constitutional violations, which he said had crippled governance and eroded trust between the arms of government.
“It is obvious that the only solution now is to apply the solution prescribed by the 1999 Constitution as altered, which is the impeachment of the incorrigible governor and the deputy governor,” Maol said. He added that the Assembly had exhausted all political options.
Maol further stated: “We therefore strongly appeal to leaders at all levels and the good people of Rivers State to kindly consider the problem at hand and understand that the impeachment process is the best way to go at this point.”
He also praised President Tinubu, noting:
“He did his best for the resolution of this impasse, but the governor and deputy governor are adamant.”
Following the briefing, the lawmakers called on Speaker Martin Amaewhule to reconvene the House, while four members who had earlier favoured a political settlement publicly withdrew their support for dialogue and endorsed the impeachment process.
At plenary shortly afterwards, the House unanimously backed the call for a formal investigation into the allegations against the governor and his deputy.
“This voting clearly shows the decision of the House,” Speaker Amaewhule declared, as he urged the Chief Judge of Rivers State to constitute an investigative panel in line with constitutional provisions.
