The Rivers State House of Assembly has officially commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, citing allegations of gross misconduct. This significant development unfolded during a plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule. The Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented a notice of allegations against Governor Fubara, which reportedly bears the signatures of 26 lawmakers, invoking Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Speaker Amaewhule confirmed that this notice would be served on the governor within the next seven days.

The accusations against Governor Fubara are comprehensive, outlining seven counts of alleged gross misconduct. These include the controversial demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, engaging in extra-budgetary spending, the deliberate withholding of funds designated for the Assembly Service Commission, and a refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling concerning the financial autonomy of the legislature.

Separately, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a notice of allegations against Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh. The charges against Oduh include reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds, actively obstructing the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional responsibilities, and colluding to allow unauthorised individuals to occupy government offices without proper screening by the legitimate Assembly. Furthermore, Oduh is accused of approaching groups outside the Rivers State House of Assembly for budgetary approval and the unlawful seizure of salaries and allowances due to the House of Assembly and the Assembly Service Commission.

This current move by the Assembly is seen as a re-ignition of hostilities between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The political landscape of Rivers State has been turbulent, marked by significant shifts, including the defection of a horde of Rivers Assembly lawmakers, led by Speaker Amaewhule, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on December 5, 2025. Days later, Governor Fubara himself formalised his switch from the PDP to the APC. Despite these changes, the underlying 'sabre-rattling' and thinly veiled remarks between Wike and Fubara persisted, culminating in the declaration of emergency rule in the state in March 2025. A significant majority of the Rivers lawmakers have reportedly maintained their loyalty to Wike.

Speaker Amaewhule has publicly accused Governor Fubara and Deputy Governor Oduh of posing a direct threat to democracy. He condemned the governor for