The fragile peace brokered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu among key political actors in Rivers State has again broken down, as the State House of Assembly on Thursday commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. Led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Assembly issued a formal notice of impeachment, accusing the governor and his deputy of gross misconduct, constitutional violations and financial impropriety, a move that further escalates the prolonged political crisis in the oil-rich state.
The latest action marks the third impeachment attempt against Fubara in less than three years and follows a series of failed reconciliations after his rift with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. President Tinubu first intervened in December 2023 after lawmakers aligned with Wike moved to impeach Fubara, resulting in a peace accord involving the governor, the Assembly and the FCT minister. In March 2025, the crisis worsened when Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following renewed impeachment efforts, suspending the governor, his deputy and the lawmakers, and appointing former naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator. Fubara was later reinstated after another peace deal brokered by the president.
However, Thursday’s proceedings suggest that the truce has collapsed. During plenary, the Assembly, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, levelled eight allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. The charges include reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds, misappropriation of state resources, obstruction of legislative functions, illegal appointments without Assembly screening, and the alleged seizure of salaries and funds meant for lawmakers. Other allegations relate to the withholding of salaries of the Clerk of the House, refusal to implement financial autonomy for the legislature and judiciary, and the blocking of funds for the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission.