The Rivers State House of Assembly has denied claims that the ongoing impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara is being influenced by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, the Assembly’s spokesperson, Enemi George, said the lawmakers were acting strictly within the provisions of the Constitution and not at the direction of any political figure.
George cautioned against conflating politics with constitutional responsibilities, describing such an approach as dangerous and misleading.
“The FCT minister is a politician. If we begin to mix politics with constitutional matters, we will begin to cause trouble,” he said. “It is insulting to reduce the activities of an institution created by the Constitution to the influence of an individual.”
While acknowledging his personal political alignment with Wike, George insisted that the impeachment process was not politically motivated, stressing that the Assembly was carrying out its lawful duties.
He further dismissed allegations of budget padding and claims that legislative activities had been stalled, describing them as unfounded.
Impeachment proceedings
During plenary on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally read a notice of allegations against Governor Fubara in accordance with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
The House commenced impeachment proceedings against Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, citing allegations of gross misconduct. The notice outlined seven allegations, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding of funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature.
The motion was endorsed by 26 lawmakers. Amaewhule said the Assembly would formally notify the governor within the constitutionally prescribed timeframe.
In a related development, the Deputy Leader, Linda Stewart, presented a separate notice of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. The allegations include reckless and unconstitutional spending, obstruction of legislative activities, and the alleged approval of budgets outside the recognised Assembly.
The latest move marks the second impeachment attempt against Fubara and Odu in less than a year, following a similar effort in March 2025 that arose from political tensions between the governor and his predecessor, Wike.
APC reacts
Reacting to the development, the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the impeachment proceedings, describing them as “destabilising and unnecessary.”
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the party acknowledged the constitutional independence of the legislature but warned against actions that could plunge the state into political turmoil.
The APC dismissed claims that the impeachment move was linked to budgetary issues, noting that a ₦1.485 trillion budget had already been approved by the National Assembly during the emergency rule period and is expected to run until August 2026.
The party urged the Assembly to halt the process, warning that it could harm the state’s political stability and stall development.
