The Rivers State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its determination to continue impeachment proceedings against Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, accusing the duo of persistently violating the Constitution and undermining the authority of the legislature.
The lawmakers also alleged that the governor was planning to deploy officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate members of the House.
Members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly made these claims during a media briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday.
It will be recalled that on January 8, the Assembly formally commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, citing allegations of gross misconduct and disobedience to constitutional provisions. The House subsequently adjourned to January 15, resolving to serve the notice of impeachment on the executive arm through the Clerk of the Assembly.
However, plenary could not hold on Thursday, January 15, with no official explanation given for the development.
The crisis took several turns in the past week. On Monday, the Minority Leader, Hon. Sylvanus Nwankwo (Omuma Constituency), alongside Hon. Peter Abbey (Degema Constituency), publicly withdrew from the impeachment process and urged their colleagues to seek political solutions. Shortly after, Hon. Barile Nwakoh (Khana I) and Hon. Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor II) also called for restraint and dialogue.
In a dramatic reversal on Friday, the four lawmakers announced a change of position and declared their support for the continuation of the impeachment process. Speaking to journalists, Nwakoh and Amadi said they had abandoned calls for political settlement, accusing the governor of refusing to honour agreements or retrace his steps.
“The governor is not ready to abide by any agreement or respect the legislature,” they said, insisting that impeachment was now unavoidable.
Addressing the press, the Majority Leader, Hon. Major Jack, accused Governor Fubara and his deputy of failing to adequately respond to the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against them. He maintained that the House would not back down, stressing that no individual or office was above the Constitution.
In a joint statement read by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Dumle Maol, the Assembly said it resolved to continue the impeachment proceedings despite appeals and interventions from within and outside the state.
Maol described the governor as “incorrigible,” alleging that both Fubara and Odu had shown no willingness to resolve the constitutional issues raised in the impeachment notice.
“The governor and the deputy governor do not have any intention to stop disobeying the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” Maol said. “They are acting as if the Rivers State House of Assembly does not exist.”
He further accused the executive of manipulating public opinion and attacking lawmakers through “paid media platforms,” rather than addressing the substance of the allegations.
“This is a real problem for our democracy,” Maol added. “It appears the governor and his deputy believe they are above the Constitution, while the arm of government empowered to check them is expected to keep quiet and be humiliated.”
The Deputy Speaker also alleged that while lawmakers were considering appeals from stakeholders, the governor and his deputy were allegedly planning to use institutions such as the EFCC to intimidate members of the Assembly.
“They have refused to respond to any of the allegations of gross misconduct, yet they have time to attack the House in the media and make plans to intimidate lawmakers,” he said.
Maol insisted that the ongoing crisis was not a personal or political feud, but a constitutional matter.
“The real problem is that the governor and his deputy are at war with the Constitution to achieve their political goals,” he stated, urging residents of Rivers State to study the impeachment notice carefully to better understand the lawmakers’ position.
He concluded by stressing that the only path to lasting peace and progress in the state lies in strict adherence to the rule of law, separation of powers, and respect for constitutional authority.
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