Political tension in Rivers State escalated yesterday as the state House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, over alleged gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

The Assembly reconvened ahead of its scheduled recess end on January 26 to commence the process, adjourning until January 15. The move has sparked widespread debate, with the Rivers APC, Ijaw National Congress (INC), and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) rejecting the proceedings and urging lawmakers to avoid destabilizing Fubara’s administration.

Assembly Cites Gross Misconduct

Speaker Martin Amaewhule stated that the impeachment motion stemmed from the governor and deputy’s alleged refusal to present the 2026 budget and allow the Assembly to contribute to appropriation bills.

Citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Majority Leader, Major Jack, listed seven points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara, including:

• Demolition of the Assembly Complex
• Extra-budgetary spending
• Withholding funds for the Assembly Service Commission
• Defiance of the Supreme Court ruling on the Assembly’s financial autonomy

Deputy Leader Linda Stewart also brought forward accusations against Deputy Governor Odu, including unconstitutional spending, obstruction of the Assembly, and mismanagement of salaries and allowances meant for the legislature.

Speaker Amaewhule described the alleged actions as a threat to democracy and emphasized that the Assembly would not allow the governor to bypass legal and constitutional processes.

APC Rejects Impeachment

The Rivers APC, through spokesman Darlington Nwauju, criticized the move as a continuation of past PDP conflicts and urged legislators, particularly APC members, to resist outside pressure to destabilize the government. Nwauju highlighted that a budget had already been approved during the six-month emergency rule in 2025 and remains valid until August 2026, giving the governor discretion over a supplementary budget.

A faction of the APC led by Chief Emeka Beke echoed this position, stressing that the impeachment attempt is politically motivated and rooted in old PDP disputes.

PDP Split

The PDP remains divided on the matter. The Wike-backed faction endorsed the impeachment, framing it as a constitutional issue rather than a political attack, while the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), led by Kabiru Turaki, adopted a cautious stance and refrained from taking a position.

Calls for Calm from INC and IYC

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and its youth wing, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), called for restraint, urging the Assembly to prioritize the welfare of Rivers residents over political rivalries. INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba warned against what he described as an attempt to capture the state for individual interests. IYC President Dr. Alaye Theophilus added that Fubara should be allowed to complete his tenure peacefully, noting that Rivers has benefited from the governor’s development projects.

ADC Monitoring Situation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) said it is closely observing developments before taking a formal stance.

Background

Governor Fubara and his deputy recently joined the APC after previously being members of the PDP. This marks the third impeachment attempt against Fubara, following previous efforts in 2023 and 2025. The Assembly has formally served the impeachment notice, signed by 26 of 32 lawmakers, initiating constitutional proceedings.

The political drama comes amid ongoing factionalism and public debate over governance in Rivers State, with observers closely watching whether the 2026 impeachment attempt will succeed.