Fubura’s Impeachment: Rivers Assembly Asks Chief Judge to Probe Governor

The Rivers State House of Assembly is intensifying an already tense political situation by making a formal appeal to the state’s Chief Judge. The Rivers Assembly goes ahead to probe Governor Siminalayi Fubura’s impeachment allegations.

The appeal requests that a seven-person panel be appointed to look into claims of misconduct against the Governor and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu.

In a unanimous vote on Friday, parliament ordered the court to set up the investigating body. So far, this crucial stage of the impeachment process has divided the state’s political class and sparked heated debate across the Niger Delta.

The Assembly’s resolution invokes Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the provision that governs the conduct of impeachment enquiries following notice of alleged misconduct.

The formal request was transmitted to Chief Judge Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, who must now appoint the panel within the constitutional timeframe.

In the same vein, four lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who had withdrawn from the impeachment proceedings, have made a U-turn. The assembly members are the Minority Leader of the House, Sylvanus Nwankwo; Peter Abbey, representing Degema Constituency; Barile Nwakoh of Khana Constituency I; and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II.

“You will recall that on the 12th day of January 2026, myself and my colleague, Honourable Peter Abbey, addressed the press, wherein we made a plea to our colleagues to seek for a political solution to this impasse that is going on between the Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State,” Hon. Nwankwo said.

“During the pendency of this appeal, we found out that the governor and the deputy governor have all employed their media boys and aides to continuously attack the Rivers State House of Assembly instead of seeking for the political solution which we offer. It is on this basis that I, Honourable Sylvanus Nwankwo, and my fellow colleague here, Honourable Peter Abbey, say that the impeachment proceedings should continue.”

The impeachment proceedings were set in motion on January 8, when 26 of the 32 lawmakers serving in the 10th Assembly issued a notice alleging that the governor and his deputy had committed acts amounting to gross misconduct in office.

The lawmakers backing the impeachment accused Governor Fubara of unauthorised extra-budgetary spending, withholding a ₦600 billion supplementary budget from the Assembly, demolishing parts of the legislative complex, and allegedly ignoring court orders.

The impeachment allegations have been rejected by pro-Fubara aides and supporters as politically motivated. They said the allegations stem from ongoing factional conflicts that have shaken Rivers’ politics since Fubara took over as Nyesom Wike’s hand-picked successor.

However, the Assembly leadership maintains that the constitutional process must proceed despite the opposition.

If the inquiry panel finds the claims to be true, the Constitution permits the suspension of the Governor and eventual removal from office. However, it would likely prolong tensions in Nigeria’s oil-rich South-South area.