Jane Otu, South South
DAILY COURIER - The political landscape in Rivers State took a dramatic turn on Monday as the State House of Assembly served notices of gross misconduct on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. The development has further escalated the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich state, with accusations of constitutional breaches, financial mismanagement, and obstruction of legislative functions taking center stage.
The notices, signed by 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, were presented during Monday’s plenary session and transmitted to the governor and his deputy by Speaker Martin Amaewhule. The lawmakers cited Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates that such allegations be signed by at least one-third of the House members and specify the particulars of the misconduct.
The lawmakers leveled several specific allegations against Governor Fubara. He was accused of reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds, mismanaging state resources without due process. Additionally, the governor was alleged to have hindered the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, an independent arm of government, by obstructing its operations.
Another accusation involved the illegal appointment of individuals to key government positions without the required screening and confirmation by the Assembly. The lawmakers also claimed that Fubara withheld salaries, allowances, and funds meant for the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly. Furthermore, the governor was accused of seizing the salary of the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi.
Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu was similarly accused of complicity in the alleged misconduct. The lawmakers claimed that Odu connived and supported the illegal appointment of persons to occupy offices and positions in the Rivers State Government without allowing for the requirement of screening and confirmation.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule officially transmitted the notices to Governor Fubara and his deputy, emphasizing that the allegations were raised by “not less than one-third of the membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly.” He directed the governor and his deputy to respond to the allegations within 14 days, as stipulated by Section 188(3) of the Constitution.
“Within 14 days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the House shall resolve by motion, without any debate, whether or not the allegation shall be investigated,” Amaewhule stated in the letter.
The development marks a significant escalation in the political tensions between the executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State government. The crisis has been further complicated by the ongoing standoff over the presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill. Governor Fubara had earlier expressed his intention to present the budget on March 19, 2025, but was allegedly locked out of the Assembly last week.
In response to the impeachment notice, the Coalition of Opposition Federal Lawmakers dismissed the move as a “desperate strategy” by pro-Wike lawmakers to divert attention from their refusal to accept the budget. Spokesperson Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere described the allegations as “fabricated” and accused the lawmakers of attempting to undermine the state judiciary and cause unnecessary tension in Rivers State.
“There is still a valid court judgment barring them from commencing any impeachment move,” Ugochinyere stated. “These guys are local political blackmailers and propagandists. Their interest is not the budget but to ensure the people of Rivers suffer.”
As the political drama unfolds, it remains unclear how Governor Fubara and his deputy will respond to the allegations. The situation has left residents of Rivers State in a state of anxiety, with fears that the crisis could further destabilize governance in the state.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has called for calm, urging all parties to adhere to constitutional processes. However, with the 14-day response window now in effect, the coming days are likely to be critical in determining the trajectory of the political crisis in Rivers State.
