Impeachment: Rivers Assembly escalates crisis, asks Chief Judge to probe Fubara, Deputy

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday escalated its confrontation with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, formally requesting the Chief Judge of the state to constitute an investigative panel to examine allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

The decision, reached through a unanimous resolution, signals the Assembly’s determination to push ahead with impeachment proceedings amid a deepening political crisis in the oil-rich state.

The latest development is the culmination of months of tension following the collapse of the working relationship between Governor Fubara, the state legislature, and his predecessor, former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Although Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025—describing the move as an attempt to align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—the defection failed to ease hostilities within the Assembly.

Most lawmakers have remained politically aligned with Wike, while the rift between the executive and legislature has continued to widen despite repeated assurances by the governor that his political realignment was intended to restore stability.

The prolonged feud previously forced President Tinubu to intervene in March 2025, when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy and the Assembly for six months amid fears of governance paralysis and security breakdown. 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 briefing in Port Harcourt, lawmakers accused Governor Fubara of blackmail, intimidation and repeated constitutional violations, arguing that trust between the executive and legislature had completely broken down.

Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol said the Assembly had exhausted all political options and was left with no choice but to invoke constitutional remedies.

“It is obvious that the only solution now is to apply the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which is the impeachment of the incorrigible governor and his deputy,” Maol declared.

He appealed to political leaders and residents of Rivers State to understand that the Assembly’s actions were aimed at restoring order and accountability, not deepening divisions.

The lawmakers also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his earlier efforts to mediate the crisis, noting that the governor and his deputy remained unyielding despite interventions.

Following the briefing, the Assembly called on Speaker Martin Amaewhule to reconvene plenary to allow constitutional processes to proceed without obstruction.

In a significant turnaround, four lawmakers who had previously called for a political solution withdrew their opposition and publicly declared support for the continuation of the impeachment process.

Shortly afterward, legislators moved into the chambers, where plenary resumed.

During the session, the House unanimously endorsed a motion requesting the Chief Judge of Rivers State to set up an investigative panel to probe the allegations of gross misconduct.

“This vote clearly reflects the position of the House,” Speaker Amaewhule said, urging the judiciary to act in line with constitutional provisions.

The resolution formally activates the next stage of the impeachment process, setting the stage for a potentially decisive chapter in Rivers State’s prolonged political crisis.

Very Nigerian.

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