The political crisis in Rivers State has taken another turn as members of the State House of Assembly have begun impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
This happened during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, on Thursday, 8 January 2026.
The Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, read out the notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Fubara.
Relying on Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, Jack listed points of alleged gross misconduct against Fubara which includes: Demolition of the Assembly Complex, Extra-budgetary spendings, refusal to obey the Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the house, Withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission (ASC), among many others
Twenty-six members of the Rivers State House of Assembly signed the notice after the Majority Leader, Major Jack, presented it before the Speaker. The Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said the notice of impeachment would be served on the Governor within seven days.
After that, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, also presented a notice of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, which includes: Some of the allegations of gross misconduct include: Reckless and unconstitutional spending of public funds, Obstruction of the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional duties as outlined in the 1999 Constitution, Conniving to allow unauthorized persons to occupy offices without proper screening by the legitimate House of Assembly, Approaching another group for budgetary approval instead of the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly, Seizure of salaries and allowances due to the Rivers State House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule mentioned that he had observed that Governor Fubara had not presented a budget to the Assembly since the lifting of the state of emergency, and he questioned where the governor was getting funds from, even though the 2025 budget approved by the National Assembly under the Sole Administrator was still in effect.
Amaewhule also said the governor had been appointing people into office without the screening and confirmation of the Assembly.
The governor recently appointed some Special Advisers and carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle in which he reappointed the Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, as the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
The State Executive Council also recently approved the 2026 budget pending its presentation to the Assembly, as Governor Fubara said he would ensure that the Assembly Complex, which is currently under reconstruction, is completed before presenting the budget to Assembly members in the new building.
The governor is expected to respond to the impeachment notice to be served by the Assembly within seven days and also address the allegations raised against him.
