Rivers politics boils over, as Assembly launches impeachment move against Fubara, deputy

By Johnson Arua

The political tension in Rivers State escalated sharply on Thursday following the formal commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh, by members of the State House of Assembly.

The development unfolded during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, marking a new phase in the prolonged power struggle that has engulfed the state’s political landscape in recent months.

At the sitting, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented and read a notice of allegations outlining claims of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara, setting the constitutional process for impeachment in motion.

Lawmakers alleged that the governor engaged in actions deemed inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, though the specific details of the accusations were not exhaustively debated during the session.

According to the Assembly, the impeachment notice against the governor was endorsed by 26 lawmakers, a figure that suggests significant backing within the House and signals the seriousness of the move.

Following the reading of the notice, Speaker Amaewhule stated that the allegations would be officially served on Governor Fubara within seven days, in strict compliance with constitutional guidelines governing impeachment proceedings.

The Speaker emphasized that the House was acting within its legislative mandate, insisting that due process would be followed at every stage of the exercise.

In a related development, the Assembly extended the impeachment process to the office of the deputy governor, further heightening the political stakes in the state.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Linda Stewart, read a separate notice of allegations and claims of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh during the same plenary session.

This dual action indicates that the lawmakers are pursuing a comprehensive shake-up of the state’s executive leadership, rather than an isolated move against the governor alone.

Political observers believe the impeachment push reflects deeper divisions between the executive and the legislature, as well as unresolved internal conflicts within the state’s political structure.

As the impeachment notices await formal service and response, Rivers State now braces for an intense period of political uncertainty, with the potential to significantly reshape its governance and power dynamics in the days ahead.