The Rivers State House of Assembly has confirmed that it has successfully served an impeachment notice on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, marking a new phase in the ongoing political crisis in the state.
The confirmation was made public through a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday. According to the lawmakers, the notice was duly delivered to the governor, in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
“The impeachment notice has been successfully served on the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara,” the assembly stated.
This development follows an emergency plenary session held on Thursday, during which members of the House formally began impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy. The session was attended by 26 lawmakers, who accused Governor Fubara of acts of misconduct that they said were capable of undermining democratic governance in Rivers State.
According to information from the assembly, the impeachment notice was signed by at least 19 lawmakers, which meets the constitutional requirement for such a process. Under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a notice of allegation must be signed by not less than one-third of the members of a state house of assembly before impeachment proceedings can begin.
The notice reportedly listed about eight allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and his administration. While the full details of the allegations were not made public in the assembly’s statement, lawmakers claimed the issues raised were serious enough to warrant impeachment.
Impeachment is a constitutional process that allows a legislature to remove a sitting governor or deputy governor if found guilty of gross misconduct. The process involves several stages, including investigation by a panel, before any final decision can be taken. Serving the notice is only the first step, and it does not automatically mean the governor has been removed from office.
Governor Fubara, who assumed office in May 2023, has been at the centre of a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State. The crisis largely stems from a power struggle between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The disagreement has divided the state’s political leadership and the House of Assembly.
Over the past months, Rivers State has witnessed repeated clashes between rival political camps, leading to legislative tensions, court cases, and disruptions in governance. At different times, lawmakers loyal to opposing sides have held separate sittings, further complicating the situation.
Earlier in the crisis, there were attempts at reconciliation, including interventions by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other national leaders. However, these efforts have so far failed to produce a lasting solution, as tensions continue to rise.
The emergency plenary that led to the impeachment notice was seen by political observers as a major escalation of the conflict. Many residents of Rivers State have expressed concern over the impact of the political instability on governance, development, and public services.
Civil society groups and opposition parties are also closely watching developments in Rivers State. Some have called on all parties to respect the rule of law and place the interest of the people above political battles. Others have urged calm, warning that prolonged instability could affect security and economic activities in the oil-rich state.
As of the time of filing this report, Governor Fubara has not issued an official response confirming receipt of the notice or addressing the allegations against him. It is also unclear when the House of Assembly plans to set up an investigative panel, which is the next step in the impeachment process.