The Rivers State House of Assembly has formally set in motion impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, deepening the political crisis in the state.
The move followed an unexpected change in the Assembly’s schedule. Lawmakers, who had earlier fixed January 26 for resumption, instead reconvened plenary on Thursday after circulating a fresh internal memo to members.
The memo, dated January 5 and signed by the Clerk of the House, Emeka Amadi, informed lawmakers that plenary would hold on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., citing provisions of the Assembly’s Standing Orders. Such last-minute changes, from my experience covering legislative politics, often signal urgent or high-stakes business.
At the sitting, which was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read out a notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Governor Fubara.
The lawmakers accused the governor of financial impropriety, alleging that he converted state funds into foreign currency and paid individuals in Abuja to lobby President Bola Tinubu in a bid to prevent the Assembly from summoning him to present the 2025 budget.
According to the Assembly, the allegations amount to constitutional violations. A total of 26 lawmakers reportedly signed the notice, meeting the threshold required to initiate impeachment proceedings under the constitution.
Speaker Amaewhule said the notice would be formally served on Governor Fubara within the next seven days, in line with due process.
In the same plenary, the Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, also read a separate notice of allegations and gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, indicating that the impeachment push extends beyond the governor alone.
Based on how similar cases have unfolded in other states, the next steps will likely include a formal response from the affected officials and possible judicial interventions, as Rivers State braces for what could become a prolonged constitutional and political showdown.
